commercial site improvement grant

Application Package for Tax Increment Finance Funding

South St. Petersburg CRA

Commercial Site Improvement Grant

Applications & supporting documents are to be submitted in a single envelope at least 8”x 10” in size to:

Rick D. Smith, CRA Coordinator Eighth Floor Planning and Economic Development Department One 4th Street North (Municipal Services Building) St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

**Important**

The City will begin accepting applications on May 31, 2016 at the above location on a first come, first served basis. Please ensure that the date

and time of submission are recorded by City staff before leaving.

Application Process Projects will be awarded TIF funding on a first-come first-served basis. The one-for-one

reimbursement will be approved after an internal staff evaluation of the completed project’s

compliance with program guidelines and applicable codes of the City of St. Petersburg.

Applicant will not receive funding until the project has been inspected and issued a Certificate of

Occupancy by the City.

Successful applicants must sign a Grant Agreement with the Mayor or designee which specifies

their obligations and rights upon issuance of the Grant. To ensure timely commencement and

completion of the Project, the Applicant shall abide by the following deadlines:

• Within 60 days of execution of the Grant Agreement, file a “Notice of Commencement”

pursuant to the requirements of the City’s Construction Services and Permitting

Department.

• Within 6-18 months of execution of the Grant Agreement, request a “Review of

Completed Work” from the City of St. Petersburg. (Length of time will depend on the

nature of work to be performed.)

Applicants requiring the execution of a Grant Agreement to secure additional financing will be

allowed 90 days from the execution date to do so before the above deadlines will commence.

Applicant shall make the request in writing. Absent approval of an extension of these deadlines

by the City, failure to comply will result in the cancellation of the TIF Agreement, rescission of the

Grant Award and return of the earmarked funding to the South St. Petersburg Redevelopment

Trust Fund. The applicant must maintain the improvements in accordance with the terms of the

Grant Agreement as well as the City’s Code of Ordinances.

Applications are to be submitted in an 8”x10” envelope or larger with the project’s name and

location, the applicant’s name and address and the name of the TIF funding program for which

the application is being made to the Planning and Economic Development Department on the 8th

Floor of the Municipal Service Building, which is located at 1 Fourth Street North, St. Petersburg,

Florida, 33701. Enter through the door on the far left after exiting the elevator. Before leaving

Commercial Site Improvement Grant South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area

the envelope containing the application at the above location, please ensure that the date and

time of submission has been recorded on the envelope by City staff. This is important because

funding will be awarded to projects with complete applications on a first come, first served basis.

Eligibility Guidelines The Commercial Site Improvement Grant provides matching grants 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.

An applicant may receive a one-for-one matching grant of up to $20,000. Applicants with

properties listed on the Local Register of Historic Places may be eligible for a matching grant of

up to $40,000 if the approved work is found compliant with the City of St. Petersburg Historic

Preservation Ordinance. The TIF contribution will be reimbursable to the applicant upon

completion of work.

The Commercial Site Improvement Grant program is available to fund eligible exterior

improvements on commercial, industrial and mixed use properties. Mixed-use commercial

projects are eligible provided the commercial component of the project comprises more than 50

percent of the gross square footage of the development. Eligible costs will be apportioned on

the basis of this percentage between nonresidential and residential use.

TIF funding priority will be given for applications for properties located within the following

commercial corridors in the South St. Petersburg CRA:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street South

16th Street South

22nd Street South

34th Street North/South

49th Street North/South

Central Avenue Corridor (including 1st Avenues North and South)

5th Avenue South

18th Avenue South


Please see the map on the last page for the corridor boundary limits. 1. Eligible Improvements

Exterior painting, re-siding, and/or cleaning

Masonry repairs

Removal of architecturally inappropriate or incompatible exterior finishes and materials

Restoration of significant architectural details or removal of materials that cover said architectural details

Landscaping, fencing and buffer walls

Installation or repair of exterior signage, including wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business name and identity

Awnings and canopies installation or repair

Doors and windows

Roof repairs that attach to a new or renovated façade

Exterior lighting

Demolition of obsolete structures

Window and cornice flashing and repair

Architectural and engineering fees (not to exceed 10% of total funding request)

2. Ineligible Improvements Installation of aluminum or vinyl siding

Work performed by an unlicensed contractor

Permitting and development review fees

Improvements performed prior to approval of the TIF application

New building construction

Reducing or enclosing existing storefront windows

Improvements to buildings and site improvements constructed within the last 5 years

Equipment, mechanical and HVAC systems

Minor roof repairs (other than those portions that directly attach to a new or renovated façade)

Security systems (including metal roll down gates, window bars, cameras)

Any interior work


Any improvements not visible from the public right-of-way

Improvements in progress or completed prior to preliminary approval

Routine maintenance

Improvements to buildings solely used for residences

Note, applicants meeting any of the following disqualifying criteria may be ineligible for funding:

Code enforcement liens over $2,500

Special assessment liens over $500

Pending judgment or foreclosure

Felony conviction for financial mismanagement within the last five years

Mortgage payments three months in arrears

Unpaid property taxes

Unpaid property insurance


Required Documents Items listed below are to be submitted together to the Planning and Economic Development

office for review. Each document is to be submitted in order per the list below and must include

the applicant’s original signature and date. Any documents being prepared on behalf of the

applicant must also include an original signature of the person preparing the documents.

Incomplete packages will not be reviewed and will be returned to completion. This may result in

the application losing its order from the time originally submitted.

Completed and signed application form

If necessary, a letter requesting an extension of ninety days to seek additional financing if

TIF funding application is approved

Detailed cost estimates of work by input (labor, materials, etc) and project component

(signage, landscaping, painting, carpentry, etc)

Copy of current business tax certificate

Confirmation that mortgage, property insurance and property tax payments are current

and in good standing.

Documentation of property ownership or written consent from property owner giving

permission to conduct the identified improvements. (The property owner will be

required to sign the Grant Agreement to assume responsibility for maintenance of

improvements funded by the Grant.)

Legal description and survey of project site

Use must be consistent with the City’s land development regulations

Digital photographs of existing conditions of the project site

Written description of project improvements

Sketches or conceptual drawings of improvements that will be funded by the Grant.

Failure to provide required information will delay the review and/or approval process.


Commercial Site Improvement Grant

Project Information Date Project Address(es)

Zoning Parcel ID(s)

Current Building Use (i.e., Vacant, Commercial, Industrial, Mixed use with Residential) Proposed Business Use Funding Amount Applying For

Use of Funding Proceeds (provide attachment of detailed cost breakdown)

Labor Supplies/Materials

Equipment Architectural/Engineering

Other (define) Estimated Private Capital Investment (provide attachment of detailed investment) Total Number of Jobs Created and/or Retained Total Building Size (sf)

Size of Commercial Area (sf)

Project Description (attach any drawings and/or detailed written description as necessary)


Commercial Site Improvement Grant Applicant Information

Legal Name of Business DBA (if applicable) Tax I.D. Number

Principal Place of Business Address (not P.O. Box)

City State Zip Date Business Est

Business Industry (provide NAICS code if available)

Type of Ownership (select one)

C-Corp. LLC Sole Proprietorship

S-Corp. Partnership

Business Email Bus. Website

Mailing Address (if different)

City State Zip

Key Contact Name Key Contact Cell Key Contact Email Bus. Telephone If you answer yes to any of the questions below, please attach an explanation Has applicant ever declared bankruptcy or had any judgments, repossessions, or garnishments filed against them? Yes No Are there any pending actions regarding bankruptcy, judgments, repossessions or garnishments? Yes No Are any tax obligations, including payroll, business or real estate taxes, past due? Yes No

Are any mortgage payments three months or more in arrears? Yes No Has the applicant or partners or interest in the application been convicted of a felony for financial mismanagement within the last five years? Yes No

Are property insurance payments late or unpaid? Yes No

Are there code enforcement liens of more than $2,500 on the project site? Yes No

Are there special assessment liens of more than $500 on the project site? Yes No Are any tax obligations, including payroll, business or real estate taxes, past due? Yes No


Commercial Site Improvement Grant Applicant Certification and Signatures

I certify that the information provided in this application is true and accurate to the best of my ability and no false or misleading statements have been made in order to secure approval of this application. You are authorized to make all the inquiries you deem necessary to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein. Applicant Signature Print Name Date

Commercial Site Improvement Grant Owner Authorization

As owner of the property/properties located below, I hereby authorize the Applicant as identified above to undertake the activities specified in this application. Property Address(es) Property Identification Number(s) Owner Signature

Date

Print Name
