Commercial Development Grant

The City of Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency administers the Commercial Development Grant for certain development 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 limited projects that meet CRA goals and objectives and include a community benefit component. The grant is intended for commercial funding requests of $1 million or more and is not available for requests below $1 million. City of Tampa requests may also be considered when the project meets applicable CRA goals and objectives. Eligible projects must be located within a CRA Redevelopment Area and satisfy the funding principles established in the CRA Grants and Funding Policy. Governmental entities, including the City of Tampa, property owners, ground tenants, and non-tax-generating properties may apply subject to applicable requirements. Ground tenants must provide their lease, and property owners must execute an Owner's Affidavit consenting to the application. Applicants, owners, and properties must be current on mortgages and business and property taxes, and current and future property uses must comply with the City of Tampa Code of Ordinances. Ineligible projects include properties outside a CRA, delinquent or foreclosed properties, specified residential developments, mixed-use commercial developments with less than 20 percent commercial use in a single story, certain new construction, adult uses, bars, lounges and nightclubs, projects eligible for or already funded through standard CRA grants, requests below $1 million, sweat equity, noncompliant projects, and projects where work commenced before CRA review and approval. The grant may reimburse eligible pre-development costs up to 20 percent of the total grant award, not to exceed $200,000, although the applicable percentage and allocation may vary based on the available budget in the CRA area. Eligible soft costs are 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 only. Stacking a Commercial Development Grant with other CRA grants for the same project is prohibited. An award recipient also may not seek another CRA grant for the same property within 10 years. Grant funds are generally reimbursement based: the applicant incurs initial project costs and is reimbursed after eligible work is completed and required documentation is approved. Before applying, a prospective applicant must successfully complete a pre-application meeting with the CRA Project Management Division. Appointments may be requested by calling 813-274-8325 or through the CRA website. CRA staff provides the application and necessary forms after a successful meeting. Required materials include a completed and executed application; a detailed request letter covering project background, scope, costs, regulatory compliance, renderings, site layout, photographs, statutory and Community Redevelopment Plan alignment, community benefits, strategic alignment, requested assistance, project timeline, contractor estimates or proposals, total project cost and non-CRA funding; verification of financial resources exceeding the CRA amount requested; proof of ownership or applicable lease and Owner's Affidavit; applicable Sunbiz information; and required committee approvals. The community benefit must be eligible under Florida law, proportionate to the CRA funding requested, supported by a specific Community Redevelopment Plan citation, and include CRA recognition in a format approved by the CRA Board. Applications are accepted competitively in two annual cycles subject to funding availability. Cycle 1 opens September 1 and complete applications are due November 1, followed by Community Advisory Committee presentations in January and CRA Board presentations in February for Group A districts or March for Group B districts. Cycle 2 opens February 1 and complete applications are due April 1, followed by Community Advisory Committee presentations in June and CRA Board presentations in August for Group A or September for Group B. CRA staff reviews an application for completeness and accuracy within 10 business days of receipt. Incomplete applications at the applicable deadline are not considered for that cycle. Complete applications are reviewed for eligibility, scoring, consistency with Chapter 163 Part III, the applicable Community Redevelopment Plan, and available budgets before Community Advisory Committee and CRA Board consideration. Competitive scoring totals 100 possible points. CRP Alignment and Financial Feasibility are each worth up to 20 points; Project Schedule and Timeline is worth 5; Project Location is worth 10; Community Benefit is worth 15; CRA Board Goals Alignment is worth 20; and Legacy is worth 10. Financial Feasibility gives greater consideration to projects with a higher ratio of private investment relative to CRA funds, while Community Benefit gives greater consideration to projects incorporating green space, public parks, or public improvements. CRA Board goals include Attainable Housing, Community Engagement, Connectivity, Economic Development, and Quality of Life. Applicants must present their projects to the Community Advisory Committee and, following its recommendation, to the CRA Board for the final funding decision. Following CRA Board approval, an applicant must execute the Grant Agreement within 10 business days after it is provided and before beginning grant-funded work. Additional requirements include verification of financial resources exceeding the approved CRA amount, 10-year Restrictive Covenants, continued maintenance of the community benefit, CRA access for inspection and documentation, recognition of CRA financial support, and satisfaction of construction conditions such as an executed construction contract, architect certification, final project budget, applicable fundraising plan, required financing evidence, permits and approvals, and payment and performance bonding. Reimbursement generally occurs after project completion upon submission and approval of completion notice, permits and occupancy certificates, invoices and proof of payment, and other Grant Agreement conditions. Reimbursement must be requested within 30 days after project completion under the construction deadlines established in the Grant Agreement. Deadline extensions of up to one additional year may be granted at the CRA Director's sole discretion but are not guaranteed.

Complete the mandatory pre-application meeting well before the application window. Submit early enough to allow CRA staff's 10-business-day completeness review and correction of deficiencies. Cite the applicable CRP precisely and make the community benefit proportionate to the CRA request. Demonstrate financial soundness and maximize documented private investment relative to CRA funds. Show readiness to commence construction. Explicitly connect the project to CRP/SAP priorities and the CRA Board goals of Attainable Housing, Community Engagement, Connectivity, Economic Development and Quality of Life. Do not commence grant-funded work before the award letter and executed Grant Agreement.