Stuart CRA presents 2024 annual report; staff flags funding gap for Project Lift job‑training center

Jordan Pinkston, CRA program manager for the City of Stuart, presented the Community Redevelopment Agency's 2024 annual report at the CRA board meeting on March 24, 2025. The report summarized tax increment financing receipts, incentive and facade programs, capital projects under way and an outstanding funding gap for a state‑funded job‑training center.

The CRA reported $5,300,000 in tax increment finance (TIF) deposits for fiscal year 2024 and described multiple incentive programs, including a Business Exterior Reimbursement Program (BERP), a Commercial Landscape Improvement Program (CLIP), a mural matching grant, a residential facade grant and a tree‑planting program. Pinkston said the report will be mailed to taxing authorities and that the financial statements included in the report were unaudited; an audited report will be posted within 45 days of the audit's completion.

The report described capital projects either under construction or in design: downtown undergrounding and the Seminole Streetscape (Brookhart Construction awarded an $8,700,000 contract; expected completion November 2027), the Riverside Park neighborhood improvement project (total cost $2,500,000; TAP grant $1,500,000; construction began August 2024; expected completion summer 2025), MLK Boulevard streetscape (30% design complete), Guide (Guy) Davis Community Park (60% design underway, skate park design added) and gateway and district signage. The CRA will contribute about $1,000,000 in TIF toward a $2,700,000 amphitheater at Memorial Park; the report says the majority of that project will be paid from ARPA funds and the Public Works Department is the lead.

Pinkston described smaller incentive results for 2024: the BERP reimbursed four projects for a total of $37,000; the program has awarded 55 businesses since inception with a total private investment of about $1,800,000 and a cumulative CRA contribution of $388,000. The CLIP program was allocated $25,000 for fiscal year 2025. The mural matching grant reimburses 50% of project costs up to $3,000; the residential facade program reimburses up to $500 plus an additional $500 for paint. The residential street tree program has planted 27 trees to date; the 2025 application deadline was April 30 and nine applications had been received.

A major item in the presentation was the Project Lift job‑training center at 710 Southeast MLK Boulevard. Pinkston said the city acquired the property in January 2024 for $1,600,000 and received a CDBG COVID grant of $6,200,000 for acquisition, demolition and new construction. Bids returned at about $6,400,000 and staff reported insufficient funds to award a construction contract; staff has requested an additional $4,000,000 from the Florida Department of Commerce (Florida Commerce) and is awaiting the state's review.

Board members and the city manager discussed several policy issues during and after the presentation: whether CRA funds should be concentrated on large downtown projects or spread over smaller, citywide improvements; historic‑district nomination boundaries (staff said the proposed downtown nomination excludes much of the Triangle District because many buildings there have been demolished); and the legal limits on CRA expenditures and the risks of misusing TIF funds. City Manager Mike Martel cautioned that CRA funds must be used within the CRA plan and noted statutory and audit penalties if CRA requirements are violated; he cited Florida Statute 163.3164 as the state law governing CRA plans and eligibility.

Public commenter Clay Scherer urged the boards to proceed with "no‑brainer" pedestrian and streetscape improvements while stakeholders work toward consensus on larger projects. Several board members suggested exploring incubator or small‑business support programs and recommended the CRB provide formal recommendations on priorities.

Staff said the annual report had been presented to the Community Redevelopment Board (CRB) on March 4 with no objections and that staff was seeking approval to send the 2024 annual report to the state and taxing authorities; later in the meeting staff clarified the item was a presentation and did not require a formal commission vote. The CRA's unaudited financial summary remains subject to change following the audit.

Pinkston and staff listed next steps: await Florida Commerce's response on additional Project Lift funding, complete the audit and post audited financials, continue outreach on historic nominations and roll out ongoing grant programs and neighborhood designs.