Commission debates $400,000 CRA request for Millville Boys & Girls Club, directs staff to narrow scope

The commission discussed a request to provide a $400,000 construction grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Bay County for reconstruction of the Millville center. Counsel warned the use was near the edge of what the CRA statute authorizes for grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and recommended focusing on activities explicitly allowed in the CRA statute — for example demolition, site preparation, playgrounds and related site work — rather than direct funding of building construction or programming without clear statutory authority.

City attorney staff said demolition, site prep and playground improvements are clearly authorized under CRA redevelopment language and advised that if commissioners wanted to fund construction or programming they should consider amending the CRA plan and coordinating with Bay County for approval where necessary. Commissioners debated whether to provide a grant, a zero‑interest loan, or require reimbursement and bids; some commissioners said they preferred a reimbursement structure or that the project be placed in the CRA plan before funds are committed.

Commissioner motioning and discussion produced no immediate grant award. Instead commissioners asked staff to work with the CRA team, confirm allowable activities with CRA legal guidance, and return at the CRA meeting in two weeks with a defined scope (for example demolition and site work, with bids or cost estimates) and recommended funding mechanism (grant or reimbursement). Staff also discussed seeking three bids or leveraging the applicant’s federal procurement materials to support cost estimates.

The commission did not finalize a $400,000 funding decision on the record but provided direction to narrow the request to statutory categories and to present a clear grant or reimbursement framework at the upcoming CRA meeting.