South St. Petersburg CRA

The South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) was established to promote reinvestment in housing and neighborhoods, commercial corridors, business development, education and workforce development and non-profit capacity building within the South St. Petersburg CRA.

The 7.4 square-mile CRA is the largest in St. Petersburg and one of the largest in Florida. The CRA is comprised of Greater Childs Park, more than 20 neighborhood and business associations, and two Florida Main Street Districts. 

View the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) web page for information on meeting agendas, minutes and materials.

South St. Petersburg CRA Programs & Grants

The City of St. Petersburg has developed several CRA programs that are designed to support the “Three Pillars” of the South St. Petersburg Redevelopment Plan:

1. Place-based opportunities
2. People-based opportunities
3. Housing-based opportunities

These programs provide direct funding to homeowners, property and business owners and developers.

Place-based Opportunities

Applications for the following grants must meet the following requirements:

• The City will begin accepting CRA commercial grant applications on February 1, 2019. All applications must be received by 5 p.m. on February 11, 2019. Please bring your application to The Greenhouse (City Hall Annex), located at 440 2^nd Avenue North (just east of City Hall).

• All application materials should be contained within a 9”x12” envelope, which has the name and mailing address of the applicant, the grant program for which you are applying, the address of the subject property and a contact phone number and email address. If you are applying for more than one grant, a separate envelope(s) must be used.
• View a Sample CRA Grant Agreement or Sample Commercial Loan Program (in partnership with Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp.)

*Commercial Site Improvement Grant provides a reimbursable matching grant of up to $20,000 to commercial property owners that upgrade their building façades, landscaping, lighting, loading and service areas and other features of their sites visible from the public right-of-way. Frequently Asked Questions Application

*Commercial Building Interior and Tenant Improvement Grant provides a reimbursable matching grant of up to $20,000 for interior upgrades to commercial properties with a focus on projects that remedy degraded building systems and extend the economic viability of the building. Frequently Asked Questions Application

*Grants are awarded through a competitive application process that is scored based on criteria approved by City Council (View the Criteria Scoring System) 

Commercial Revitalization Program provides grant awards of up to $100,000 for commercial projects that enhance established business districts by redeveloping and renovating properties and improve the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods. A minimum capital investment of $100,000 (excluding land) is required as well as minimum job creation and retention for residents of the South St. Petersburg CRA. Frequently Asked Questions **Application forthcoming.

To view the schedule for required workshops and register, go to: https://stpetegreenhouse.com/

2019 Schedule for the CRA Commercial Grant Workshops

People-based Opportunities

Note: The below programs will be rolled out in early 2019.

Redevelopment Micro Loan Program provides funding to small businesses ranging between $2,500 and $5,000 within the South St. Petersburg CRA in exchange for their successful completion of a business curriculum administered by The Greenhouse. The program helps businesses develop capacity through increased education, mentoring and networking and receive CRA funding to make targeted improvements without needing up front capital. Application Frequently Asked Questions

Capacity Building for Family Child Care Homes provides family child care homes an opportunity to apply for an award of up to $10,000 to pay for eligible capital improvements related to upgrading the section of the house devoted to the child care business. The operator must complete a curriculum designed by The Greenhouse and its partners to increase the capacity of the operator and provide a pathway for expanding their business into a traditional child care center. Application Frequently Asked Questions

Academy for Business in Child Care Development provides child care centers an opportunity to apply for an award of up to $10,000 to fund improvements that strengthen the financial viability, growth potential and independence of the child care centers. Funding will be awarded after the center operator completes the curriculum designed by The Greenhouse and must be spent on approved improvements. Application Frequently Asked Questions

Youth Farm provides youth development and guidance, workforce training and urban agriculture experience for the community. 

South St. Petersburg Workforce Development Collaborative is a collaboration with the Pinellas Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition (PERC) to provide education and job training to residents of the CRA. 

Housing-based Opportunities

These programs will support both single-family homeownership and the development of multifamily residential. 

Funding will be made available on a first come, first served basis. This bucket of programs will be launched in the first quarter of 2019.

Rebates for Residential Rehab Program creates an incentive for private investment in the target area by providing a 20 percent rebate of the cost of specific building improvements to the owner of the residential property.

Affordable Residential Property Improvement Grant reimburses approved applicants for eligible exterior and interior improvements on affordable residential housing in the CRA. An applicant may receive a reimbursable grant equaling up to 40% of the pre-construction value of eligible improvements. **Application and FAQ forthcoming.

Affordable Housing Redevelopment Loan Program provides funding through a variety of loan products such as bridge loans, loan guarantees, and low-interest or forgivable loans to support affordable housing development in the South St. Petersburg CRA. **Application and FAQ forthcoming.

Affordable Multifamily Housing Development Program provides an annual incentive for up to 15 years to promote the development of affordable housing in the South St. Petersburg CRA. The incentive, which must first be approved by City Council before undertaking construction, is based on the following formula:

Affordable Single-Family Homeownership Program provides funding to support affordable homeownership for income-eligible households in the South St. Petersburg CRA through direct financial assistance programs. Awards are in the form of loans with a term of 5, 10 or 15 years. **Application and FAQ forthcoming.

2017 Grant Programs Archive 

• Business Assistance Opportunities (December 2018)
• The Redevelopment Approach for South St. Petersburg (February 2016)
• The South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Plan  (adopted by City Council, May 21, 2015)
• Interlocal agreement between St. Petersburg and Pinellas County for the South St. Petersburg CRA (7.2.15)
• Florida Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 (Chapter 163, Part III)
• 2018 Special Dependent District Financial Reporting for South St. Petersburg CRA

St. Petersburg Main Street Districts

South St. Petersburg is fortunate to have two of Florida's forty official Main Street Districts. The Main Street program is an important tool for revitalizing commercial corridors, and has had demonstrated success throughout Florida and the United States. These two districts are:

• Deuces Live 
• Grand Central 

Subscribe to our CRA mailing list or contact us to request more information.