Contact: LaShaun Middlebrooks Collier, Deputy Director of Communications,
Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency: (239) 321-7100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CRA announces incentives for residents and businesses
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Date, 2025) – The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces a variety of incentives available to the public for residential and commercial properties located in their community areas for the 2025-2026 budget year.
Incentives include the CRA’s Commercial Property Improvement Grants, Residential Paint Program, Residential Improvement Matching Grant and the Downtown Storm Mitigation and Resiliency Grant.
The 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.
Matching funds available in this grant cycle include $727,969 for the Cleveland CRA, $500,000 for the Dr. MLK CRA and $743,089 for the Downtown CRA.
Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants Application cycles are:
· Cycle 1 – November 1-November 30
· Cycle 2 – January 1 – January 31
· Cycle 3 – April 1 – April 30
· Cycle 4 – June 1 – June 30
The CRA’s Residential Paint Program encourages single-family and duplex owner-occupied residences to improve the exterior of their structures, thereby reducing blight conditions and improving the aesthetics of the community with a maximum potential grant available of $5,000 per unit.
Funds available in this grant cycle include $$250,000 for the Dr. MLK CRA; $250,000 for the Downtown CRA and $150,000 for the East Fort Myers CRA.
The CRA’s Residential Property Improvement Matching Grant Program aims to stimulate private investment in the CRA District by providing financial incentives for property owners to enhance the appearance and functionality of their existing buildings.
Available funding for the coming fiscal year includes $250,000 for the MLK CRA and $500,000 for the Downtown CRA.
The Downtown Storm Mitigation and Resiliency Grant is designed to strengthen the economic heartbeat of Downtown Fort Myers by equipping local businesses with tools and strategies to withstand and recover from severe weather events.
The grant will reimburse up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible pre- and post-storm mitigation equipment and resiliency improvements, with a maximum reimbursement of $100,000.00 per business.
To be eligible, businesses must be located within the designated impact area; be a commercial business that includes retail, restaurants or professional services and be in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. Priority consideration will be applied to businesses that demonstrate clear need, historic value or community benefit.
The program covers pre-storm mitigation, post-storm resiliency and planning/assessment costs.
For the 2026 fiscal year, $1 million is available in this grant fund.
Residential Paint Program, Storm Resiliency, Residential Improvement grants are open until funding expires.
More information on all programs and grants can be found by visiting https://fortmyerscra.com/
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.
