The North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency approved a $200,000 business attraction grant to the North Miami Beach Volleyball Academy (NMB Volleyball) to convert a warehouse at 120 Second Street and 14th Avenue Northeast into a multi-sport facility.

In a staff presentation, Jimmy Joseph, commercial and capital project coordinator for the North Miami CRA, described the academy as founded in 2015 by Valerie Martinez and Dr. Jose Padilla and noted the organization currently fields about 32 teams and has more than 400 active players. Joseph said the academy participates in USA Volleyball and AAU tournaments statewide and nationally and brings tournament traffic and visitors to the area.

The proposed renovation would create four indoor volleyball courts, a gym, a training facility and an outdoor soccer field, with interior and exterior lighting, air conditioning installation, signage, landscaping and irrigation among the eligible improvements. Founder Valerie Martinez told the board the program plans to “offer family days” and “clinics for the youth and adults,” and said the academy collects addresses from participants to track local participation.

Vice Chair Timothy moved to approve Agenda Item 2; the motion was seconded and carried 5-0. The agenda record notes the project appeared before the advisory board the previous evening.

During discussion board members asked about the lease term with the property owner Prestige View; the applicants said the lease is seven years. Board members also questioned whether participants would include North Miami residents; Martinez and staff said the majority of the academy’s existing clientele are already from North Miami and that the academy records addresses to verify local participation. Martinez said the team is considering changing its public name from “North Miami Beach Volleyball Academy” to “North Miami Volleyball” to reflect its current location.

Because the board approved the grant, CRA staff will proceed with the grant agreement and reimbursement process consistent with CRA policy on eligible expenses.