CRA approves improvement matching grants for Downtown and Cleveland Ave.

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently approved Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants for the Downtown and Cleveland Avenue redevelopment areas.

The first grant was in the not-to exceed amount of $22,095.48 for Sunshine State Law’s property located at 2058 Cottage St. in downtown. The funds will be used for exterior patching and painting, siding replacement, window repair replacement, decking/ramp replacement, new handrails, soffit/fascia repair, landscaping, signage repair and exterior lighting.

The second grant was awarded to Fountain of Grace International Corp.’s property located at 1702/1704 Fowler St. in the not-to exceed amount of $22,334.81. The grant will be used for stucco replacement.

The final downtown grant awarded is in the not-to exceed amount of $3,075.00 for 7091 Pinnacle LLC.’s property located at 1788 Fowler St. The funds will be used towards exterior patching and painting.

The first Cleveland Avenue area to receive a grant is in the not-to exceed amount of $53,268.00 for the property at 4418 Cleveland Ave.  The funds will be used for new signage doors and window replacement.

The second grant is in the not-to exceed amount of $693.75 for Dru’s West Indian Roti Shop located at 2968 Cleveland Ave. The grant will go towards sign replacement.

The CRA Commercial Property Improvement Grant Program is a matching grant for commercial property owners and businesses within Fort Myers redevelopment areas. The maximum potential grant available for a project in Tier I is 75 percent of the total eligible expenditure, with a maximum award of $50,000. The Fort Myers CRA has offered commercial preservation incentives/ grant programs since 2010 and grant awards are based on the availability of funds.

More information on the CRA’s Commercial Property Improvement Grant Program can be found at https://www.fortmyerscra.com/incentives/commercial-property-improvement-matching-grant.