[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6747019,"mediaKeyId","5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d","parentId",5587823,"title","IDA approves audit, housing agreements, property sales and several contract authorizations","audioSeconds",289,"startMs",682000,"endMs",393000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d&start=682&end=393","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d/thumbnail_682000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6747019/Hardee-County/Florida/IDA-approves-audit-housing-agreements-property-sales-and-several-contract-authorizations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747019-c587768ab39693cefbe2b942fe711a88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770299037&Signature=B8J5AZ7kMGLuP4zzsFEOX0aW3P4kXEZoTSRugLnCfyq-79zcMLfqIp2vHYizBaWDweCymNcmooEuMkRJoRI4IoHX6nTn12JUzWhvcFvw3aZ-StVTah7486cmp~2YO5j3xXk~xlNwuuWFj6Iq1GW77tUXy3BqyiWjwtbKUaPjOBw1lqF1wIEmXREf69M5GBegHbCnQBYGS0Ijl~8UUnDpllCo~bdLitVFrEslivU7HTSpV~d~z5sCvw9sIs9nuQOTSfY7ThXGs43am0W9c0kbpQVKmfZEAm29XaN2Mj6fOCKGDG7grNrX~o3c-Fak5nxGDTgbkGciFCeffxOCi~Ge5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hardee County","date","2025-08-14T08:31:00Z","article","The Hardee County Economic Development Council Industrial Development Authority convened and recorded a series of administrative and project decisions, including acceptance of the fiscal year 2024 audit, authorization for staff to negotiate a contract for the Gardens At Midtown housing proposal, ratification and extension of a Commerce Park purchase due-diligence period for EcoStairis, approval to execute a purchase contract with A Plus Environmental for a Commerce Park parcel, and authorization to negotiate with Saunders Real Estate for national marketing services.

Garrett Marlow, senior manager with the audit firm engaged by the IDA, told the board the auditors issued an unmodified opinion on the FY24 financial statements, reported a net position increase of about $8.3 million and revenue growth of roughly 57 percent, and identified one low-severity finding involving a subsequent disbursement not recorded in accounts payable. The board moved to accept the audit and approved the acceptance by voice vote.

On housing, staff reported one responsive proposal to the Gardens At Midtown RFQ from National Development of America working with Bridal Land Development and Rhino Construction; the evaluation committee recommended proceeding and the board authorized staff to negotiate a contract and return with a final agreement. Staff noted the IDA had budgeted $1,000,000 for the downtown housing element and that land acquisition and reimbursement language would be part of contract negotiations.

EcoStairis, a South Carolina company seeking two lots in the Commerce Park to operate medical/surgical tool sterilization services, requested additional time to complete permitting and due diligence. The board ratified a staff-signed temporary extension and voted to approve a 90-day extension of the inspection period through Nov. 14, 2025.

The board approved the exercise of an option to purchase by A Plus Environmental for a Commerce Park lot. Staff reported the contract price at the current appraised value of $146,500, with $14,650 earnest money and a 30-day inspection period; the motion authorized closing and execution of purchase documents.

The board also approved the evaluation committee\u0000s recommendation to select Saunders Real Estate for national marketing and authorized staff to negotiate a contract. Saunders was the single respondent and was presented as a firm with statewide and national industrial-marketing experience.

Several additional routine motions passed by voice vote: approval of the meeting agenda and July 2025 minutes, acceptance of the auditor\u0000s management letter, and approval of the July financial statements as presented.

Votes recorded on the transcript were conducted by voice; the board recorded motions, seconds and voice approvals but did not provide a roll-call tally for each item in the audio transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hardee County - Economic Development Council/Industrial Development Authority","oneSentenceSummary","The Hardee County Economic Development Council Industrial Development Authority convened and recorded a series of administrative and project decisions, including acceptance of the fiscal year 2024 audit, authorization for staff to negotiate a contract for the Gardens At Midtown housing proposal, ratification and extension of a Commerce Park purchase due-diligence period for EcoStairis, approval to execute a purchase contract with A Plus Environmental for a Commerce Park parcel, and authorization to negotiate with Saunders Real Estate for national marketing services.","taxTitle","Hardee County, Florida","taxId",72884,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747010,"IDA to negotiate contract with sole respondent for Gardens At Midtown townhomes",494,994000,1488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d&start=994&end=1488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d/thumbnail_994000.jpg","/articles/6747010/Hardee-County/Florida/IDA-to-negotiate-contract-with-sole-respondent-for-Gardens-At-Midtown-townhomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747010-01ee1d1288a3152167486e9f03097775/orig.mp4?Expires=1770299037&Signature=PnLxUnMzewoHEqAwPZBy4qQU3IaGu2Mopqk2jnhaGNp1vb95zfZO6TqtS2PktkRANvEFGILoRBoLawk269QD~2fWrivbzmTEX8bFJbOpoiC5ETXL-v1kQZqMoFd~e0go3efZpbiBmAHPdNUj3JH0jE2sD0JS3~pajj6ApaalTY1GiGVXdI66Nnr0q8YVQbk3qLPvHY6LYzQmqgzN4e~4~8xfefgE34UQU7hZ4vD6-iBNy9AQa9rjfRSv7NZPnZVIVDj3mvFH1aditAy5dwk3m4Yx-dqjavAKi8CLYB2RGS4580ff4euczoPHQRHwKnwEd9nCzP8RbfbJk5xzG8D9iA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hardee County IDA authorized staff to negotiate a contract with the sole respondent to the Gardens At Midtown RFQ: National Development of America in partnership with Bridal Land Development and Rhino Construction. The proposal calls for 12 to 15 townhomes ranging from about 1,200 to 2,000 square feet, with front porches, yards, rear garage access where feasible, and governance by a homeowners association.

Staff and the evaluation committee recommended negotiating a land-acquisition-reimbursement approach with staged performance milestones. One suggested structure would split the parcel into two lots: the developer would acquire and construct half the units, receive reimbursement for that portion after completion, and hold a right of first refusal on the second parcel to develop the remainder under the same staged process. Staff noted the IDA has budgeted $1,000,000 for the downtown housing element and is leveraging a RIF grant for a related parking-lot improvement adjacent to the project.

Board members asked staff to confirm parcel acquisition accounting because the IDA currently owns the land and did not purchase it using housing grant dollars; staff said they would provide the combined acquisition cost and use an appraisal to set purchase price if the IDA conveys land to the developer. The board approved authorization for staff to negotiate the contract and return the final agreement for approval.","The IDA's evaluation committee recommended and the board approved staff authorization to negotiate a contract with the single RFQ respondent for Gardens At Midtown, a proposed 12–15-unit townhome development in downtown funded in part by IDA housing allocations and state grants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747014,"Board authorizes negotiation of $350,000 reimbursement for West Main historic renovation",1929,1658000,3587000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d&start=1658&end=3587","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5587823-41936322f063f20cf14cc73c3162968d/thumbnail_1658000.jpg","/articles/6747014/Hardee-County/Florida/Board-authorizes-negotiation-of-350000-reimbursement-for-West-Main-historic-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747014-4f5f6bb5fc10489991f188da82046760/orig.mp4?Expires=1770299037&Signature=KXIZSAueYIlbn1miPDdMgRPbcPSOqB~4yxzVL5Igy2Y-e~zx-JrRT4gE3Nx2NViG2gUzruyNXWBh1CS~YP~AiMyL7o4RlopG~x6c7o4RovxlALexV8vpyejzhgeQJD5c48J0k5ykY1VCiBQiX3kNaEmyWfwZShmpw5FHtDdgPu46XsscgiY1gpn2WoTkgKugUCM8pLpuQivOXKbW-j5HHa5zT8knPiA7oANswJEOw6jUmo-UNe48-ESl~QVdvPnhAAuNjk66tRe79EOIaqtGLgvQsrteDLr-o6LoZopJUXItspx4SUPje6LXps-dCxyi9zLx2duJIrkX~AnxocRpsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hardee County IDA voted to direct staff to negotiate a $350,000 reimbursement grant to support a historic rehabilitation and mixed-use conversion of the West Main (Verizon) building in downtown. Developers Travis Maldonado and partner Jim C. presented a plan to create six apartments (four two-bedroom, two one-bedroom) above two existing storefronts and requested a reimbursement-style historic incentive. The developers reported they have invested about $150,000 to date and estimated the total project budget at roughly $700,000; they said they would assume construction risk and seek reimbursement on completion.

Board members debated the request at length. Concerns centered on the project's long payback for tax revenue — one member estimated roughly a 30-year tax payback for the IDA\u0000s $350,000 contribution — while supporters framed the award as catalytic for downtown revitalization, vacancy reduction and housing for local workers. One board member noted the IDA\u0000s share of the proposed investment would be about 27 percent with developers covering the remainder.

After discussion, the board made and approved a motion directing staff to negotiate the $350,000 reimbursement grant under the IDA\u0000s existing housing incentive options. Staff said the proposed agreement would follow Option 2 (developer-owned property with deliverables and reimbursement at completion, with a potential historic incentive uplift) and would return to the board with a contract for approval.

The board emphasized the project\u0000s potential to supply multifamily housing options that are currently limited in Hardee County and to support downtown economic activity, while recognizing the relatively long financial payback compared with other housing investments.","After extended discussion about return on investment and downtown revitalization, the IDA directed staff to negotiate a $350,000 reimbursement grant to support conversion of the historic Verizon building into six apartments and two storefronts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

IDA approves audit, housing agreements, property sales and several contract authorizations

IDA to negotiate contract with sole respondent for Gardens At Midtown townhomes

Board authorizes negotiation of $350,000 reimbursement for West Main historic renovation