The Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has opened applications for two grant opportunities designed to support commercial property improvements and help businesses overcome development barriers within the City of Tampa’s designated Community Redevelopment Areas: Central Park, Channel District, Downtown, Drew Park, East Tampa, Tampa Heights Riverfront, West Tampa and Ybor City.
Together, the grants provide funding to help eligible property owners and businesses plan, improve and activate commercial spaces.
Commercial Special Projects and Commercial Development Grants
The Commercial Special Projects Grant provides matching funds of up to $999,999, while the Commercial Development Grant provides matching funds of $1 million or more for transformational commercial property improvement projects that may fall outside the scope of standard CRA grants but advance redevelopment goals.
Eligible projects may include building renovations that modernize or activate underused commercial spaces, adaptive reuse of obsolete structures, and property improvements that address safety and code-compliance needs while supporting long-term commercial viability. Projects must align with: (1) Florida’s Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 (Florida Statute Chapter 163, Part III), (2) the adopted Community Redevelopment Plan for the applicable CRA, and (3) one or more strategic goals identified by the CRA Board or in the area’s Strategic Action Plan. Eligible improvements must require City of Tampa building or site permits.
Last year, the Tampa Firefighter's Museum in downtown Tampa received funding from the previous version of the Commercial Special Projects Grant for windows, door restoration and storm shutters.
"The support from the CRA is helping us preserve an important piece of Tampa’s history while making sure this building can continue serving our community for years to come," said Bill Wade, a retired Tampa Fire Captain who helps to run the museum. "Restoring the historic windows and doors and adding storm shutters allows us to protect the character of the museum while also making it safer and more resilient."
Eligible applicants include commercial property owners, commercial tenants with owner consent, and governmental entities. Residential projects, most new construction and projects already underway are not eligible.
Applications will be accepted September 1 through November 1, 2026. A required pre-application meeting with either the Economic Development or Project Management Divisions must be completed before submitting an application. Qualified applications will be competitively evaluated by CRA district.
Learn more about the Tampa CRA’s commercial grants at tampa.gov/cras/commercial-grants.
To schedule a required pre-application meeting, submit a Request for CRA Consultation on the CRA Commercial Grants Webpage.
Maps and a property search tool are available at tampa.gov/CRAs.