Contact: LaShaun Middlebrooks Collier, Deputy Director of Communications,
Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency: (239) 321-7100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 29, 2023) – The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently approved three Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants for the Downtown Redevelopment Area.
Henderson Franklin Attorneys at Law were approved for a grant in the not-to- exceed amount of $24,441.00 for their property located 1802 Broadway in Fort Myers. The funds will be used to remill, repave and sealcoat the law firm’s parking lot.
The Butterfly Estates/7901 Pinnacle, LLC was also approved for a grant in the not-to-exceed amount of $111,454.95 for their property at property located at 1815 Fowler St. in Fort Myers. The funds will be used to replace outdoor lighting, soffit/fascia repair, landscaping design and installation, exterior paint, mural creation and signage.
Steven Brantner of Steve B Waterfront Café, located at 2015 W First St. in Fort Myers, was awarded a grant in the not to exceed the amount of 50 percent of the eligible expenditures in the not-to-exceed amount of $65,180.24.
The proposed exterior property improvement includes repaving the parking lot, painting the building, replacing signage and the addition of a new covered dining area and equipment.
With these three grants and due to a high volume of applications, the 2023/24 funding cycle for the Downtown Redevelopment Area is opening again in April 2024. The Cleveland Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Redevelopment Areas are still open for applications.
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
ABOUT THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA)
Since 1984, the CRA has managed redevelopment trusts to revitalize blighted areas in the City of Fort Myers. This reinvestment can take the form of public infrastructure, residential and commercial grant programs, public arts, affordable housing development, safety initiatives and historic preservation.
If left under-resourced, parts of our city risk remaining overlooked, affecting community spirit, and slowing economic growth. This lack of redevelopment doesn’t just impact current residents—it also discourages potential new businesses and families from making our city their home. Imagine a city where every neighborhood is a beacon of growth and community spirit—a place where residents enjoy sustainable, thriving spaces and businesses benefit from a vibrant economic environment. This is the future we’re creating. The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers, Florida, under Florida Statute Chapter 163. The Fort Myers City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners, oversee the Agency’s programs and policies. The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson Street in the historical downtown River District.
