Lake Alfred CRA expands residential façade grant awards, authorizes funding for 15 properties

Lake Alfred — The Lake Alfred Community Redevelopment Agency voted April 6 to authorize funding for residential façade improvements across up to 15 properties, expanding the FY 25/26 grant cycle to include two additional top-ranked applicants.

The board adopted CRA Resolution 01-26 after staff said the program, which awards up to $15,000 per eligible residential unit, received 39 applications and that 15 met top-ranking criteria. Finance staff said the CRA earmarked $200,000 for the residential cycle; at the $15,000 cap that allocation would fully fund about 13 applicants unless the board approved extra funding to cover two more target-area applicants.

"We do better every year," Board Member Jack Dearmin said, praising the program’s uptake and administration. Board Member Brent Eden said the number of applications confirmed the program’s need but disclosed he would abstain from voting on the matter, citing Florida Statutes 112.3143 and a relative.

Vice Chair Nancy Daley asked staff how priority ranking and award amounts would be handled and suggested the board require "Florida‑Friendly Plants" for sod and irrigation elements to encourage water conservation. City staff agreed to add language about irrigation and vegetation improvements to the program notes and to work collaboratively with applicants on award amounts and scopes of work.

The board first approved a motion to expand the allocation to include applicants 14 and 15; that motion passed with four affirmative votes and one abstention (Eden). The board then voted to adopt CRA Resolution 01-26, authorizing funding for applications numbered 1–15; the resolution passed with four affirmative votes and one abstention. Chair Mac Fuller presided over the meeting and the actions occurred after the city attorney read the resolution into the record and the city manager presented program details.

Under the program rules presented to the board, the residential grant cycle alternates every other year with the commercial cycle; each residential unit/property may receive funding only once every seven years. Staff said the previous two residential cycles had targeted Fruitland Park Neighborhood for one cycle and Echo Terrace Neighborhood for the other; the current cycle targets remaining areas in the CRA not covered previously.

With no further business, Chair Mac Fuller adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.

Details at a glance: allocation set at $200,000; maximum award $15,000 per residential unit; 39 total applications received; 15 applicants met the top-ranking criteria; board expanded awards to fund applicants 1–15 by majority vote with one abstention.