Northwood/Pleasant CityCommunity Redevelopment Agency (CRA)FAÇADE and Exterior GRANT PROGRAM

About the Program

The CRA Façade Grant Program is an incentive available to businesses located in the CRA foraesthetic improvements to the exterior of a commercial building and site. Painting of thebuilding, installation of awnings, new doors/windows, landscaping, and brick pavers are typicalimprovements covered by the Façade Grant Program. The CRA will provide a grant for 75% of a project totaling $10,000 or less, for a maximum CRAgrant of $7,500. For projects within the CRA targeted redevelopment areas (Northwood BusinessDistrict, Broadway, Dixie Highway and 25

Street and Windsor Avenue in the Industrial Area), thegrant may be increased to $20,000 with a 20% match from the business.

ExamplesWithin Within targetedCRAredevelopment areaLimitsProject Cost:$10,000$25,000City Grant:$ 7,500$20,000Owner’s Responsibility:$ 2,500$ 5,000

Properties listed for sale may not apply. Properties that are sold within twenty-four months of receiving grant funding must repay the full amount. Work on the project must begin within OneHundred Eighty (180) days following CRA approval process. Applicant may reapply if deadline ismissed.

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Eligible Improvements include aesthetic improvements to the building structure, such asexterior painting, installation of awnings, new windows and/or doors, and signage.

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Adjoining parking lots, roofs and landscaping are ineligible as stand alone projectshowever they may be included as a component of the eligible improvements as describedabove and will only be considered in conjunction with the overall physical facadeimprovements to the structure.

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Because of limited funding, staff from the CRA will evaluate the submissions and selectthose that beautify the neighborhood, will be a catalyst for other businesses andcomplement area improvements.

Please Note

Property to be improved must be free of all municipal and county liens, judgments or encumbrances of anykind. This provision can be waived by the CRA Board of Commissioners if development plans for said propertymeets the goals and objectives as set forth in the Northwood/Pleasant City CRA Five Year Strategic FinancePlan. Upon grant approval, said property must remain free of all municipal and county liens, judgments or encumbrances of any kind under the term of the agreement.

Small Improvements Initiated by the Agency

On certain occasions the CRA may deem it necessary to implement some special form of improvement to a property that would affect the health, safety, and welfare of the community. These improvements may or may not incorporate the entire Façade Regulations when initiatedby the Agency but will require written approval of the property owner. These improvements donot require approval by the CRA Board.

The Façade Grant Program benefits are contingent upon funding availability and CRAapproval and are not to be construed as an entitlement or right of a property owneror applicant. Properties in the designated CRA areas are not eligible for CRA fundedprograms when such funding conflicts with the goals expressed in the CRA StrategicFinance Plan or Community Redevelopment Plan.Step 1: Application Process1.Business or property will submit application to the CRA Staff for initial review.At that time the application should include:A)

A photograph of the property showing the area(s) for improvement.

Conceptual design

drawing(s) and cost estimate(s) of the proposed improvements. (Atthis point the CRA may provide conceptual design assistance.)

Once submitted to CRA Staff, the applicant must complete the application within ninety(90) days. Applicant may reapply if deadline is missed. In case of extenuatingcircumstances where deadlines cannot be met ( i.e. force majuere, emergencies, etc.),applicant must contact CRA Staff in writing prior to deadline to extend the application;

CRA Staff will issue thirty (30) and sixty (60) day reminder notices toapplicant. If contact is not made by applicant after ninety (90) days, aletter will issued to applicant notifying that the file is closed.

Once the application is completed, it will initially be reviewed by CRA Staff who will thenrecommend approval or denial of the application.

The application with a recommendation of approval or denial will be submitted in it’sentirety to the Northwood/Pleasant City CRA Advisory Board for review. If approved by theCRA Advisory Board the application will be submitted to the CRA Board of Commissionersfor formal approval.

After approval process, the CRA will provide the applicant with a Façade Agreement. It isrecommended that

NO CONSTRUCTION

begin until the Façade Agreement is signed byall parties. Improvements completed prior to approval by the CRA Board,

may not

beeligible for reimbursement.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO APPLICATION SUBMITTAL

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Properties listed for sale may not apply. Properties sold within twenty-four months of receivinggrant funding

must repay the full amount

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Prior to application submittal, a preliminary review of proposed renovations to property must becompleted by the Planning Department.

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After approval process, the CRA will provide the applicant with an approved Grant Agreementfor signature. It is recommended that

NO CONSTRUCTION

begin until the Grant Agreementis signed by all parties. Improvements completed prior to approval by the CRA Board, maynot be eligible for reimbursement.

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If deemed necessary, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) reserves the right to havethe application and its contents evaluated and analyzed by an outside third party including butnot limited to; the proposed business plan, partnership/ownership information with equitypositions, mortgage on the property, lease agreements, letter of Intent from lending institutionand any other documents provided by the applicant.

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If your site plan or application request includes landscaping, the landscaping must be aspecies and variety of native plants that are drought tolerant, require little irrigation andwithstand the environmental conditions of West Palm Beach. Irrigation systems must preventover spray and water waste and it is recommended a drip irrigation system be installed.

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Property to be improved must be free of all municipal and county liens, judgmentsor encumbrances of any kind. This provision can be waived by the CRA Board of Commissioners if development plans for said property meets the goals andobjectives as set forth in the Downtown/City Center CRA Five Year Strategic FinancePlan. Upon grant approval, said property must remain free of all municipal andcounty liens, judgments or encumbrances of any kind under the term of theagreement.

I have read completely and understand the program, including the application guidelines and grantreimbursement process.