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Commissioners move to stop new Penny-for-Pinellas affordable-housing applications as remaining funds near commitment
Summary
County staff reported Penny-for-Pinellas housing commitments totaling $91.2M across 18 projects and a new available balance of about $2.9M; commissioners agreed to stop accepting additional Penny applications (deadline set for applicants in-process to finish by the next day) while staff evaluates in-flight proposals and other funding options.
Pinellas County housing staff told the commission that the Penny-for-Pinellas set-aside has committed roughly $91.2 million toward 18 workforce and affordable-housing projects that will produce more than 3,100 housing units across the county, including more than 2,200 units restricted as affordable at varying income levels.
Housing staff reported that program projections were adjusted downward (to about $94.1 million total available) and that, after existing commitments and pending recommended awards, approximately $2.9 million remains uncommitted. Staff said they have several pending applications requesting far more than the remaining balance — roughly $37.4 million in requests for the $2.9 million available — and cautioned that continued intake would create unrealistic expectations.
Commissioners agreed by consensus to stop accepting new Penny applications and to allow applicants who had begun submissions before a narrow cutoff to finish their submissions; the board set an immediate technical cutoff (the chair and staff agreed to allow applications already in progress to be completed through the next day to accommodate an IT issue raised by a commissioner). Staff also said they will work with applicants to see if other funding sources — including federal HOME funds and project-specific financing — could fill shortfalls and will return with recommendations on projects that remain in the pipeline.
The county will continue to work with developers and partners to preserve permanently affordable land where possible and to finalize commitments on projects already before the board.
