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CRA approves multiple façade and storm‑mitigation grants for downtown businesses
Summary
The CRA approved a storm‑mitigation grant for Turco Taco and a series of façade and redevelopment grants across Cleveland Avenue and MLK Boulevard neighborhoods, using tiered reimbursement programs; several requests were capped at program maximums.
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved a set of grant awards on Feb. 2 aimed at bolstering downtown building resilience and storefront improvements.
Executive Director Hill Terry reported that the storm mitigation pilot program — a reimbursement program that provides up to $100,000 per project at a 75% reimbursement rate — has supported downtown businesses and that the board had two applicants today. The board approved Turco Taco’s request for $47,000 to reimburse about $63,000 of completed mitigation work (shutters, windows/doors, surge protection and raised concrete) in the pilot area.
CRA staff (Xavier Colon) then presented a sequence of façade and redevelopment grant applications across the Cleveland Avenue and MLK redevelopment areas. The programs use a tier system: tier 1 grants reimburse 75% of eligible costs up to $50,000; tier 2 grants reimburse 50% of eligible costs up to $200,000. The board approved grants for IMAD North America (signage), a canopy/awning/parking project at Ida Wells property, building and parking improvements for several hotel and retail properties on Cleveland Avenue, and additional façade work for properties on Cleveland Avenue and MLK Boulevard. Several applications exceeded the program’s maximums; those awards were limited to the stated maximums (e.g., multiple approvals at the $200,000 cap).
Approvals were made by motion and voice vote as staff presented each application. The board also approved a walk‑on planter program funded by a private donor (Deb Gillen) to add interim planters along Dean and 1st Streets (donor committed $2,300/month and one‑time installation). The consent agenda, which included several noncontroversial items, passed by roll call 5–1.
Motions recorded in the meeting materials will be incorporated into the official minutes and each grant recipient will receive written notice of award terms, reimbursement percentages and required documentation.
