Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces commercial property improvement matching grants
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces that it has awarded one commercial property improvement matching grant to a local business.
Bennie Tyrone Shoemaker and Mattie Shoemaker Young of Veronica Shoemaker Florist, in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Redevelopment Area, have been awarded a grant not to exceed the amount of $9,029.10.
The CRA’s support for commercial property improvements contributes to revitalizing neighborhoods, promoting a vibrant, safe and inviting atmosphere.
The grant funds are meant to enhance the project’s quality, the overall curb appeal of the property, and, ultimately, the property values along the corridor. The maximum potential grant is split between two tiers. The first tier available is for small-scale projects and covers 75% of the total project cost, not-to-exceed $50,000.00. The second tier available is for larger projects and covers 50% of the total project cost, not- to-exceed $200,000.
Expenditures considered eligible for reimbursement under the matching grant program include: Removal and/or repair or replace deteriorated exterior building materials such as plywood, metal, glass, or stucco; painting building exterior; new or replacement woodwork or architectural details on the exterior; exterior signs (including the removal of old signs and installation of new signs); awnings (including the removal of old awnings or installation of new ones); exterior landscaping, planters, irrigation, and screening; lighting of the exterior; brick or textured pavement (exterior); professional design services for exterior improvements; parking lot improvements; courtyard and outside dining design and development and dumpster enclosures.
“Through these grant initiatives, local businesses are empowered through essential financial support and resources to help them thrive while at the same time creating jobs and contributing to a prosperous local economy,” said Michele Hylton Terry, executive director of the Fort Myers CRA. “By providing grants for commercial property improvements, the CRA helps existing businesses enhance their premises, making them more attractive to customers and allowing them to stay competitive within the local market.”
More information can be found on the matching grant program by visiting
https://www.fortmyerscra.com/
