Contact: LaShaun Middlebrooks Collier, Deputy Director of Communications,
Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency: (239) 321-7100
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CRA approves commercial property improvement grants for Cleveland Ave. properties
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 25, 2024) – The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently approved two Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants for the Cleveland Avenue redevelopment area during their last meeting of this fiscal year.
The first grant was awarded in the not-to-exceed amount of $107,722.50 for Uliasz Properties LLC., located at 3414-3420 Cleveland Ave. The grant will be used to paint the exterior, make framing and stucco repairs, replace doors and storefronts, remill, repave, and restripe the parking lot and replace the overhang with new steel and façade.
The second grant was approved for JBCC Cleveland Ave. LLC., located at 3038 Cleveland Ave. in the not-to-exceed amount of $83,430.00. These funds will be used for exterior painting, framing and stucco repairs, door and storefront replacement, repairing and repaving the parking lot, window and door replacement and installing new signage.
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.
Grants will open up again in October 2024.
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.
