§ 42-90. Adoption of the Sweat Equity Grant Program for the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Area.

(a)

General Provisions. The Collier County Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) hereby creates the Commercial Sweat Equity Grant Program to provide financial assistance to existing commercial structures in the Immokalee Redevelopment Area by offering financial and technical assistance for aesthetic site improvements. Improvements must be exterior improvements to the structure or surrounding site. All improvements must meet the criteria listed below as well as the current requirements of the land development code, building code, and any applicable zoning overlays. Improvements that remedy existing code enforcement violations also qualify if combined with other site improvements.

The CRA is funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a capture of Collier County's property taxes above the year 2000 property tax value. TIF is a unique tool that CRAs can use to leverage public funds and to promote private sector activity:

•

The Grant is for commercial for-profit business structures that: 1) pay into the CRA tax increment, and 2) which are operating with a valid occupational license within the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Area, as established by Collier County Ordinance No. 2000-42.

•

The CRA will reimburse 50% of the cost of materials only for external improvements to existing structures, buildings and surrounding property.

•

Grants will be paid out on a reimbursement basis upon verification by CRA staff that the items identified on material receipts have been used on the property for the purposes outlined on the application.

•

The minimum grant amount under this program shall be $250.00 (minimum $500.00 total material cost).

•

The maximum grant amount under this program shall be $2,000.00 (minimum total material cost $4,000.00).

•

No monetary value will be placed on the applicants sweat equity. Funds may not be used to cover the cost of labor or personal effort.

•

Funds may not be used to cover any permitting, design and/or inspection fees.

•

Applicant must perform at least two exterior improvements that have been accepted by the CRA Advisory Board. Examples include windows/doors, stucco/paint, landscaping/irrigation, awnings/shutters, etc.

•

Grant applications will be considered on a first-come first-served basis by CRA staff.

•

Grants applications shall be awarded by the CRA Governing Board upon recommendation by: 1) CRA staff, and 2) the CRA Local Advisory Board.

•

Grants will be considered for award by CRA staff based on funding availability.

•

In order to spread the impact of the program throughout the community, there will be a one-year waiting period between grant awards for each individual property.

•

All proposed work must be approved via written CRA notice-to-proceed before beginning any work.

•

Grant funding is not retroactive. Receipts that are dated before application approval date will not be a recognized expenditure.

•

All work must be completed within one hundred and eighty (180) days of approval of the grant application by CRA Governing Board (BCC). Applicants are required to request a meeting with staff prior to submittal of application.

•

Materials must be purchased from a commercial retail establishment with no family relation to the applicant.

•

All property taxes must be paid on the structure to be improved.

•

If leased property, applicant/tenant must submit a signed Owner Authorization Form.

•

In order to protect the CRA's investment, the owner must maintain property insurance on the improved structure for a period of five years from completion.

•

Should the applicant fail to pay creditors for the materials cited in this application, the CRA shall be released from all liability.

•

All sweat equity work to be completed under this program must be:

o

Reviewed and recommended for approval by the Immokalee CRA Local Advisory Board, and

o

Pre-approved by the CRA Governing Board (BCC).

•

Should the Grantee transfer, sell, divest itself of its interest in the subject property, remove the items from the structure, or fail to maintain the improvements (neglected landscaping, moldy stucco/paint, broken windows, etc.) during the five-year period following receipt of the grant funds, the CRA shall be entitled to reimbursement of the grant funds using the repayment schedule below. Should the property be sold, the liability will transfer to the new owner. The grant application will be recorded in the Public Records of Collier County.

Elapsed Time	Amount Due CRA
0 to one year after grant funds received	100%
One year after grant funds received	80%
Two years after grant funds received	60%
Three years after grant funds received	40%
Four years after grant funds received	20%
Five years after grant funds received	0%

 

•

At each annual anniversary date of the grant approval, for a period of five years, CRA staff will perform an annual inspection of the improved property in order to verify that the improvements have been properly maintained and that any movable items paid for using CRA grant funds are still on the premises.

•

Should the property change hands during the course of the five-year period following receipt of the grant funds, the selling and receiving parties will be required to summit a completed Property Transfer Form to the CRA office so that the CRA can maintain communications with the current owner.

(b)

Grant funds may be used for the following improvements:

•

Painting (manufacturer color swatches must be provided with application and approved);

•

Window or door replacements or repairs to hurricane standards, hurricane shutters;

•

Awnings or window treatments;

•

Re-pointing of mortar joints for brick or stone fronts;

•

Stucco work;

•

Landscaping installation, and improvement at front of building (visible from public street), and must include in-ground irrigation system;

•

Site lighting, structure sconces, decorative lamp posts;

•

Architectural upgrades to the building that increase its overall curb appeal;

•

All work must be completed within 180 days of approval by CRA.

(c)

Grant funds may not be used for:

•

Working capital or administrative costs (payroll, rent, utilities, etc.);

•

Sweat equity (time/labor of applicant or family);

•

New construction;

•

Additions/expansions of existing buildings;

•

Interior renovations;

•

Demolition only;

•

Loans or other capital support;

•

Work that will extend beyond one hundred eighty (180) days of approval by CRA;

•

Work completed prior to approval of Sweat Equity Improvement Grant.

(d)

Project Evaluation. All projects will be evaluated on a point-based system using the below criteria.

Project Provides	Points Available	Points Awarded
New paint only & pressure wash	1
Architectural improvements to improve curb appeal	1
Design consistent with CRA Public Realm Plan or Form-Based Guidelines	2
Replacement or repaired windows or doors	1
Re-pointing of mortar joints for brick or stone fronts, stucco repair	1
Woodwork repair, replacement or new installation	1
Landscaping improvements and irrigation system repair	1
Install new irrigation system	2
Applicant has 50% match funding and is prepared to begin immediately following CRA approval and complete all work within 180 days of approval by CRA	1
Debris removal, fallen trees	1
Exotic tree/plant removal	2
Repair Code Violations	3
Replace/repair rain gutters	1
	Subtotal

 

(e)

Process.

(1)

Step 1: Applicant Meets with Staff:

•

Applicant must request a meeting with staff prior to submittal of application.

•

Applicant & staff meet at project site to discuss scope of work.

(2)

Step 2: Applicant Submittal:

•

Grant Application;

•

Proof of Property Ownership (deed);

•

Owner Authorization Form (requires notarization);

•

Two 8 x 10 color photos of the existing conditions ("before" photos);

•

Sketch of proposed improvements;

•

Budget estimates for the improvements.

(3)

Step 3: CRA Staff and Advisory Board Review:

•

CRA staff reviews application and completes the Points Form, then places the application on agenda of next Advisory Board meeting.

•

Advisory Board checks project to make sure it meets all grant criteria.

•

Applicant is required to be present at the Advisory Board meeting to answer any questions that may arise during the review or to provide additional material if requested.

•

If project meets all criteria, the Advisory Board makes a recommendation to CRA Governing Board.

•

In the event that sufficient funding remains in the CRA budget to cover the cost of only one project, first priority will be given to the project with the higher points. For example, if two projects are presented to the CRA Advisory Board on the same day, the project with the highest score will receive a Sweat Equity Grant. If the two projects receive the same score, the Advisory Board will be asked to vote on the project with the greatest aesthetic improvement.

(4)

Step 4: CRA Review and Approval:

•

CRA staff prepares Sweat Equity Grant Applicaiton for the CRA to review/approve.

•

Applicant signs Grant Application.

•

Application with Advisory Board recommendation and application placed on CRA agenda for review and approval.

•

CRA reviews Advisory Board recommendation and application during regular meeting and approves or denies application.

(5)

Step 5: Site Plan Improvement Process:

•

Applicant completes work.

(6)

Step 6: Project Completion and Submittal of Project Summary Report:

•

Upon completion of work and inspection to insure work conforms to the work that was proposed, applicant submits:

o

"Project Summary Report," including description of completed improvements, two 8 x 10 color "after" photos, invoices, list of materials and construction techniques used, any additional information specific to the project.

•

Notarized "Payment Request Form" and all materials receipts and/or canceled checks as proof that all materials and contracted improvements have been paid.

(7)

Step 7: CRA Staff Submits Project Completion Report for Payment:

•

CRA Staff visits site and documents improvements.

•

CRA Staff forwards Completion Report and documents to Clerk's Finance Department for payment.

(Ord. No. 2015-15, § 1)