At least once per year and contingent upon funding, the City of DeLand, through the MainStreet DeLand Association, provides six competitive grant programs designed to encourage building improvements within the downtown redevelopment area. Also contingent upon funding the City provides a Gateway Grant Program.
A detailed summary of each grant program and maps of the CRA and Gateway Districts are provided below or at the MainStreet DeLand website.
Matching Grants are available to downtown property owners and merchants for providing safe, pedestrian friendly exterior store front lighting and also for providing rear building lighting. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 75% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $2,000.
Matching Grants are available to downtown property owners that create new residential units. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 50% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $10,000.
Matching Grants are available that are designed to assist downtown property owners that create or retain existing retail business or convert office/service occupancy to retail. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 50% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $5,000.
Matching Grants are available to downtown property owners that refurbish upper floors for use as retail, office, service or residential or any combination of these categories. Creation of storage or warehouse space is not eligible. Projects may receive awards of up to 50% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $10,000.
Matching Grants are available to downtown property owners that rehabilitate exterior facades, particularly store fronts. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 75% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $5,000.
Grants are available to downtown property owners that rehabilitate buildings that have been vacant for two or more years. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 25% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $60,000.
In an effort to encourage environmentally friendly projects a "Green Options Supplement" may be applied for as part of all grant applications in the Downtown DeLand CRA and the Gateway Grant programs. This program will provide an additional incentive to grantees if their projects follow energy efficient construction practices. In order to qualify the grantees must provide required documentation.
Matching Grants are available to property owners that renovate commercial properties in the Gateway Districts in the City of DeLand. Please note that businesses within the Downtown CRA District are excluded from the gateway classifications and, therefore, are not eligible to apply for Gateway Grant funding. Eligible projects may receive awards of up to 50% of the total project cost with no single grant exceeding $5,000.
Unless there are unusual circumstances, work on grant projects may not commence before the grant application is approved by the Community Redevelopment Agency, and required permits and forms filed with MainStreet Deland Association.
The amount of the grant award may be increased for projects following "green construction guidelines." The application form should clearly stipulate that the green supplement is being requested.
For further information please contact Wayne Carter, Executive Director, MainStreet DeLand Association at 386-738-0649.
