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Newberry CRA adopts free paint vouchers, expands façade grant eligibility and funds utility-extension assistance
Summary
The Community Redevelopment Agency approved a free paint voucher program for low-income homeowners, widened its commercial façade grant to all CRA commercial zones, and created a utility-extension assistance program offering up to 50% of project costs (max $18,750) to encourage infill development.
At its Dec. 8 meeting the City of Newberry’s Community Redevelopment Agency unanimously adopted three new or updated programs aimed at downtown revitalization and infill development.
CRA staff (Miss Bukaitis) presented a free paint voucher program under Resolution 2025-CRAO5 that offers eligible low-income homeowners (income at or below 80% of the HUD area median) a voucher specifying approved gallons of paint and colors; participants must paint their own homes unless elderly or disabled, when volunteer groups organized by the CRA may assist during the Great American Cleanup. The CRA will also provide free pressure-washing services for participating homeowners. The board approved the resolution on a unanimous voice vote.
The agency also adopted Resolution 2025-CRAO4 to update the commercial façade grant program. Key changes: expand eligibility beyond Highway 27/State Road 26 corridors to any commercially zoned property within the CRA district; align contractor estimate requirements with city purchasing policy (requiring two contractor estimates for purchases over $5,000); and remove references to obsolete "commercial corridor standards." Staff said expanding eligibility aims to spur investment across the CRA district.
Finally, the CRA approved Resolution 2025-CRAO6 to establish a Utility Extension Assistance Program. The program will reimburse up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $18,750 per project, to offset engineering, permitting, fees, materials and labor needed to extend utilities to vacant lots to encourage residential or commercial infill development. The City Manager noted staff can assist potential buyers to identify closest utilities and cost estimates before purchase.
During the CRA update staff also described planned projects and outreach: a downtown development roundtable (first session Jan. 14), landscaping improvements to the Bravo Hitchcock detention basin, lighting for palm trees on Seaboard Drive, a code-violation remediation program aimed at income-qualified residents, and an "art fire hydrant" sponsorship program to raise funds for the fire department’s thermal imaging camera.
Each CRA resolution was adopted unanimously. Board members asked procedural and eligibility questions; staff said they will circulate program details, including income thresholds and application processes, to the public.
