The City of Fort Pierce Department of Urban Redevelopment is pleased to announce the availability of grant funds to assist in the restoration, renovation, and repair of commercial facades in two target areas within the City of Fort Pierce.
The Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program aims to encourage private investment in the visual improvement of commercial storefronts, signs and awnings, while restoring the original character of historic buildings and providing a catalyst for others to improve the visual appearance of their privately-owned buildings. Storefront façade improvements can include, but are not limited to: painting, stucco, masonry, awnings and canopies, affixed signage, exterior lighting, commercial storefront replacement, parking lots and accessibility improvements.
The eligible target areas for this year’s Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program include Orange Avenue, from Hwy. 1 west through 25th Street and Avenue D, from Hwy. 1 west through 25th Street.
This grant opportunity opened on Thursday, December 1, 2016. The deadline to submit applications to the City of Fort Pierce Department of Urban Redevelopment is 3:00pm, Tuesday, January 10, 2017. In order to be considered for funding, applications must be received in the Department of Urban Redevelopment by this date and time.
Grant funds are available as a 50% match, up to $5,000, as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Fiscal Year 2016-2017. There is approximately $50,000 available for this year’s grant opportunity.
The City’s Communitywide Council (CWC), a group of citizen volunteers, will review all applications received by the deadline. Their recommendations for grant awards will be presented to the City Commission at a regularly-scheduled meeting. The grant structure is discretionary and decisions of the City Commission are final. There is no appeals process, although applicants may resubmit an application at a later cycle, if one becomes available. Applicants may receive a portion of their original grant request and should be prepared to explain how the project will change should the grant award be a lesser amount that requested. Awards will be announced following the City Commission’s decisions.
The 2016-2017 Commercial Façade Grant Guidance and Application can be accessed online at the City’s website: http://cityoffortpierce.com/503/Open-Grant-Opportunities
To request an application in English or Spanish, via email or mail, or to obtain more information about the CDBG Commercial Façade Grant opportunity, call 772-467-3169 or email ewoodruff@city-ftpierce.com. Paper applications can be picked up in the Planning Department located on the 2nd floor at Fort Pierce City Hall, 100 North U.S. Hwy. 1, beginning December 1, 2016.