The Lake Alfred Community Redevelopment Agency's Facade Improvement Grant Program seeks to partner with individuals, businesses, and the nonprofit community to promote investment in the CRA area. The program incentivizes commercial building owners and tenants to renovate and update the exteriors of properties located within the CRA by providing financial assistance. The program is designed to provide a matching reimbursement grant to make these exterior and facade improvements. By offsetting the cost of these projects the CRA hopes to incentivize visible improvements that will improve building and site aesthetics thereby improving the marketability and value of existing businesses while also attracting new businesses, residents, and visitors to the area.
Eligibility
The grant program is available to individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that are located within the boundary of the CRA. Business or property owners applying for the program must be properly licensed and the project must be properly permitted for a conforming use within the CRA with no code violations on-site. This application may be submitted and reviewed concurrently with the permitting process. Property taxes and all balances with the City must be current. Projects selected to receive funding will be reimbursed for 50% of the actual eligible and verified cost up to $50,000 maximum. Grant awards and amounts are subject to approval and funding availability. Eligible properties may only receive grant funding once every five years.
How to Apply
Submit a completed application with the supporting documentation to the Community Development Department at City Hall. The application period formally opens October 1st and closes December 31st; applications received after January 1st may still be considered depending on remaining funding or may be rolled into the next year.
Reimbursement
Upon full completion of the improvements, the applicant may submit an itemized reimbursement request with all necessary supporting documentation and copies of receipts for eligible improvements identified in the grant award.
Forms