Government Services Center celebrated in north Collier

Collier County officials held their grand opening Friday for the new North Collier Government Services Center.

The 16,000-square-foot satellite center for county government is at 2335 Orange Blossom Drive, next to the Collier County headquarters library.

The building has been open for more than a week. About 50 people attended the ceremony.

County officials said that in its first nine days of operation, 1,243 customers used at least one service there.

"In order to better serve our growing population, the board (County Commission) felt it was necessary to proceed with building an additional government office in the northern part of the county," Commissioner Frank Halas said in a prepared statement.

"One of the facts taxpayers will be happy to learn about is that approximately 70 percent of the costs associated with constructing this building were paid for with impact fees."

The center's hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Photo by Garrett Hubbard, Daily News

Services there are offered by commission staff and offices of the tax collector, sheriff, property appraiser, clerk of courts and the elections supervisor.

"Opening the center at this location allows thousands of residents to conduct government business much closer to home," said Kim Grant, senior management and operations consultant, in a prepared statement. "This center is especially unique because, for the first time, services are available from all branches of county government under one roof."

The center has a meeting room that seats up to 40 and is available to the public. A $20 refundable deposit is required to reserve the room.

For more information concerning the center, call 530-6287.