Category Archives: Redevelopment News

Ron DeSantis: Eight Small and Rural Communities Getting Funds From Competitive Florida Partnership

At the end of last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $280,000 has been awarded to eight small and rural communities through the Competitive Florida Partnership grant program administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). The Competitive Florida program establishes a partnership between the community and DEO to create a strategic vision to advance their economic development needs while…

Panama City Beach CRA Advisory Committee wants to speed up potential project timelines

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) — Panama City Beach’s CRA Advisory Committee want to bring new improvements to the area and on an accelerated timeline. The committee held their meeting Monday afternoon and discussed multiple potential projects some of which included smart lighting for the city, better wayfinding, and placing fencing in medians in high…

Local municipalities using social media, email to encourage U.S. Census participation

Households have until Sept. 30 to complete their U.S. Census questionnaires, which determine how billions of dollars in federal spending is distributed and how many congressional districts each state gets. With less than two months remaining for households to respond to the U.S. Census, local municipalities are ramping up efforts to encourage residents to complete their questionnaires. In…

Clearwater Launches Restaurant Aid Program

CLEARWATER, FL — The city of Clearwater’s Community Redevelopment Agency has launched a new voucher program to spur downtown dining and the heart of Cleveland Street will remain closed to vehicle traffic to offer more room for distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The CRA’s new pilot program is a limited time, limited quantity voucher program…

Rural Communities Funding Opportunities

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the…

DEP’s Coastal Partnership Initiative Grant Program is Accepting Applications

  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Coastal Management Program announces the opening of the Coastal Partnership Initiative funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2021-22. Funding is available for Florida’s 35 coastal counties.  Any municipalities within the designated county boundaries, and which are required to include a coastal element in their local comprehensive plan, are eligible.…

Why the Next COVID-19 Relief Package Must Have Aid for Cities

AMERICA’S CITIES ARE hurting. Our nation is battling the twin challenges of a public health crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the disastrous economic fallout that it has wrought on our communities. In fact, research from the National League of Cities shows that nearly 100% of cities will see a revenue decline this year. To meet these outsized needs,…

HUD Approves DEO’s Action Plan for $735 Million to Help Florida Recover From Hurricane Michael

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced on Monday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the state of Florida’s Action Plan for more than $735 million in funding for long-term recovery efforts for Hurricane Michael-impacted communities. Hurricane Michael hit the state in October 2018. The funds are allocated through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster…

Join FBA and FRA for “Rags to Riches” Brownfield Webinar August 13, 2020

  Join FBA and FRA for “Rags to Riches” Brownfield Webinar August 13, 2020   The Florida Brownfields Association (FBA) and the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) are partnering to bring you an exciting, collaborative Webinar on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 10 AM EST.  Learn from our panel of municipalities, developers, and a leader from U.S.…

Tallahassee’s newest project: SoMo Walls bridges redevelopment

A half-mile from the Capitol, a redevelopment project represents what happens when a developer and the community fuse vision, economic need and art on one south-side corner. A $5 million project called South Monroe Walls, or “SoMo Walls,” is slated to transform nearly 2.3 acres within a city block off South Monroe Street between Oakland Avenue and Harrison Street.…

FFY 2019 Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Notice of Funding Availability

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is pleased to announce the availability of funding for non-entitlement units of local government under the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. DEO will make Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2019 funding available for the Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, Commercial Revitalization and Economic Development program areas.…

Applications Available for City of Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency Emergency Business Investment Program

Forgivable Loans Offered to Provide COVID-19 Relief for Businesses in Northwest and Central City CRAs Fort Lauderdale, July 15, 2020 – The City of Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) announces an Emergency Business Investment Program designed to provide relief for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide forgivable financing to eligible…