Commercial Special Projects Grant

The City of Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency administers the Commercial Special Projects Grant for certain projects located within Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency Redevelopment Areas. The program recognizes that some projects may warrant CRA support even though they do not fit the parameters of a standard CRA grant. It establishes an application and competitive review process for commercial special projects that are identified in and otherwise consistent with applicable CRA funding principles, goals, and objectives. Funding requests may be up to $999,999; requests above that amount are not eligible under this grant category. Grant funding is generally reimbursement-based. Eligible pre-development costs may be reimbursed up to 20 percent of the total grant award, not to exceed $200,000, although the maximum reimbursement percentage and allocation may vary according to the available budget in the applicable CRA area. Eligible soft costs are limited to architectural and engineering design fees for services performed by professionals licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, permit fees excluding additional plan review fees, and site remediation and stabilization for Brownfields. Unless otherwise provided in the Grant Agreement, the applicant incurs initial project costs and receives reimbursement after project completion and verification of eligible costs. Stacking this grant with other CRA grants for the same project is prohibited, and an awardee may not seek another CRA grant for the same property for 10 years. Eligible projects must be located within a Tampa CRA Redevelopment Area. Governmental entities other than the City of Tampa, property owners, and non-tax-generating properties may apply subject to the program requirements. Ground tenants must provide a current executed lease, and property owners must provide an Owner's Affidavit consenting to the application. Applicants, owners, and properties must be current on mortgages and business and property taxes; current and future property use must be permitted by City ordinance; and improvements must require City building or site permits. Ineligible projects include properties outside a CRA, delinquent or foreclosed properties, single-family residential and multi-family developments, mixed-use commercial projects with less than 20 percent commercial use in a single story, certain new construction, adult uses, bars, lounges, nightclubs, projects eligible for standard CRA grants, requests above $999,999, sweat equity, noncompliant projects, and projects where work begins before CRA review and approval. A prospective applicant must successfully complete a pre-application meeting with the Economic Development Division before a grant application will be accepted for review. Appointments may be requested at (813) 274-8325 or through the CRA website. Following a successful meeting, CRA staff provides the application and necessary forms. Required materials include a completed and executed application, a detailed letter of request describing the project background and scope, projected costs, regulatory compliance, renderings and site layout, photographs, consistency with Chapter 163 Part III and the applicable Community Redevelopment Plan, alignment with CRA or Strategic Action Plan goals where applicable, the requested CRA assistance and proposed use and timing, contractor estimates or proposals, total project financing, and verification of available financial resources exceeding the CRA amount requested. Ownership documentation, applicable commercial leases and Owner's Affidavits, corporate registration information when applicable, and approvals from required review committees must also be submitted. Complete applications are evaluated competitively. CRA staff reviews eligibility, scoring, consistency with Chapter 163 Part III, the district Community Redevelopment Plan, and applicable budgets. Eligible applications proceed to the Community Advisory Committee, where each applicant presents the project and funding request for review and recommendation, followed by presentation to the CRA Board for the final funding decision. The 100-point scoring framework evaluates CRP Alignment for up to 20 points, Financial Feasibility for 20 points, Project Schedule and Timeline for 5 points, Project Location for 10 points, Community Benefit for 15 points, CRA Board Goals Alignment for 20 points, and Legacy for 10 points. Financial feasibility gives greater consideration to projects with a higher ratio of private investment relative to CRA funding, while other criteria reward plan alignment, construction readiness, targeted locations, community benefit, CRA Board goal alignment, and applicable Legacy Relief. Applications are accepted twice each year subject to funding availability. Cycle 1 opens September 1 and closes November 1, with CAC presentations in January and CRA Board presentations in February for Group A and March for Group B. Cycle 2 opens February 1 and closes April 1, with CAC presentations in June and CRA Board presentations in August for Group A and September for Group B. Staff reviews applications for completeness and accuracy within 10 business days of receipt. Incomplete applications at the deadline are not considered for that funding cycle. After CRA Board approval, the applicant must execute the Grant Agreement within 10 business days after it is provided and before commencing grant-funded work. Unless otherwise provided in the agreement, a building permit must be obtained within 12 months after Grant Agreement execution, project completion must occur within 24 months after building permit issuance or by the agreement's earlier completion date, and reimbursement must be requested within 30 days of project completion. Extensions of up to one additional year may be granted at the CRA Director's sole discretion.

Align the project directly with the district Community Redevelopment Plan and applicable CRA Board goals; demonstrate financial soundness and maximize the ratio of private investment to CRA funding; show readiness to commence construction; document community benefit and applicable targeted-location advantages; submit early enough to permit CRA staff's completeness review and correction of deficiencies; do not commence work before the award letter and Grant Agreement are issued.