A business owner and owner of Diamond Transfer and Garage in Hobe Sound said the family-operated business used funds from the CRA investment program to repair and restore portions of a building that was built in 1924.

The owner told meeting attendees, “We're at Diamond Transfer and Garage. It's my family's business. My mother is now the owner. My family's been here since the forties, early forties, about 1940. They've been in business here in Hobe Sound since 1934.” The speaker said the property includes a garage and gas station building at the front and the Camp Murphy shop in the back.

The owner said the CRA investment program helped the business install a new historic-look window on the south side of the gas station building, put in two new hurricane-rated garage doors with a historic appearance, painted the building and added hardscape and plantings. “We were able to put in 2 new garage doors, which are hurricane rated and also have a historic look to them,” the owner said.

The business also operates a rental car service the owner said has existed since the 1940s; the speaker identified Diamond Transfer and Garage as the first licensed rental car agency in Martin County. The owner described receiving daily compliments about the building’s appearance and expressed gratitude for the CRA assistance: “We've gotten a lot of compliments for the the, work that's been done. I hear something nice every day, for the buildings. We're very grateful to the CRA for helping us do this.”

The owner noted ongoing work and future projects: “And, we've got some other projects down the road that we'll be able to do because we've gotten the help from the CRA.” The remarks did not specify project timelines or funding amounts.

Background: the speaker said the building dates to 1924 and the family has operated in Hobe Sound since 1934. The owner identified the business as a long-standing local operation that performs car restorations and maintains garage services. No formal motions or votes were reported in the transcript excerpt regarding the work or funding.