Fort Myers CRA board approves matching grants for six local businesses, funds storm-mitigation pilot award

The Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners of Fort Myers on Tuesday recommended approval of multiple commercial property-improvement grants and a downtown storm-mitigation award intended to support façade, parking, landscaping and resiliency work in the city’s redevelopment areas.

Assistant CRA Director Melanie Long presented the slate of applications and said the board’s grant programs reimburse a percentage of eligible project costs subject to maximum awards. “This 1 is for Gulf Shore Custom Woodworking,” Long said when introducing the first applicant, which applied for a tier 75% reimbursement with a program maximum award of $50,000.

Owner Alan Heaving, who introduced himself during the meeting, said the Gulf Shore Custom Woodworks plan at 2570 Franklin St. focuses on painting, parking improvements and landscaping, and that he already completed clean-up of the rear yard. “I’m the owner of Gulf Shore Custom Woodworks,” Heaving said, describing plans to add bushes along Evans Avenue and to repair pavement and paint the building.

The board moved and seconded the recommendation to award a matching grant not to exceed $50,000 to Heinberg Holdings LLC for the Franklin Street property;…