By Brian D’Antoni
Sundaze Gazette · Sept. 10, 2026
If you own or lease space in Delray Beach’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) District, the useful question is not “does the CRA have grants?” It is which ladder you can actually climb, which programs only work for tenants inside CRA-owned buildings, and what looks open on a brochure but is not accepting applications.
This owner map is the Palm Beach twin to the live West Palm Beach CRA + DDA incentives map and sits beside the Gazette’s Broward CRA grants overview. Different city, different desks, different dollar tables—treat Delray as its own ladder.
Canonical owner sources (re-verified live for this package):
- A Guide to CRA Funding Assistance Programs in Delray Beach (published Apr. 1, 2026)
- Funding Assistance hub
- FY 2025–26 Work Plan and Budget (PDF)
- Program guidelines and the fillable application linked from the Funding Assistance page
Hard rule before anything else: do not start construction, painting, or signage “to get a head start.” The CRA’s own Funding Assistance page and Paint-Up guidelines state that work begun before CRA Board approval can automatically disqualify all or part of a project. Site Development and Project Consultancy language is the same: apply before construction or you can lose the money.
Who this map is for
| Owner type | What to read first |
|---|---|
| Commercial owner or tenant anywhere in the CRA District | Paint-Up & Signage (districtwide path) |
| New or existing tenant in a CRA-owned property | Project Consultancy & Design + Site Development Assistance |
| NW / SW neighborhood homeowner (single-family or duplex) | Curb Appeal Residential Improvement |
| 501(c)(3) nonprofit housed in City- or CRA-owned facilities in the District | A.-G.U.I.D.E. |
| Developer hunting infrastructure, land-lease, or job-bonus incentives | CLOSED tracks — named honestly below |
Wrong geography and wrong ownership status are the expensive “almost eligible” mistakes. Confirm your address against the CRA’s property / district map and whether your lease is inside a CRA-owned building before you bid a contractor.
The honest open-vs-closed ladder (one screen)
OPEN / accepting (owner-impact summary):
- Paint-Up & Signage — commercial / multi-family exteriors across the CRA District (with Sub-Area #1/#2 use restrictions in the guidelines; see soft notes below). 50% match, max $5,000 per applicant per year. Email completed application to Gina Clayton at ClaytonG@mydelraybeach.com. Main line: (561) 276-8640.
- Project Consultancy & Design Services — only new/existing tenants in CRA-owned properties; high-priority corridor language (NW/SW, West Atlantic, Osceola Park). Apply before construction.
- Site Development Assistance — only new/existing tenants in CRA-owned properties. Tier One / Tier Two dollar table below. Apply before construction.
- Curb Appeal Residential Improvement — up to $15,000 for single-family homes and duplexes in the Northwest and Southwest Neighborhoods. Call (561) 243-7280.
- A.-G.U.I.D.E. — annual nonprofit grants for 501(c)(3)s in City- or CRA-owned facilities serving District residents/visitors. Cycle info: A.-G.U.I.D.E. page · (561) 276-8640.
CLOSED / not accepting applications (say so in the room):
- Development Infrastructure Assistance — “We are currently not accepting applications for this program.”
- Land Value Investment Program — same closed notice on the live Funding Assistance page.
- Job Creation Bonus Program — same closed notice.
Developers and employers who only need those three tracks should check back on Funding Assistance rather than budgeting phantom awards.
Desk map: who to call or email
| Need | Desk | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Paint-Up & Signage application intake | Gina Clayton | ClaytonG@mydelraybeach.com |
| Commercial programs, Site Development, Consultancy, general funding questions | CRA office | (561) 276-8640 · Funding Assistance |
| Residential Curb Appeal | Curb Appeal line | (561) 243-7280 |
| Nonprofit A.-G.U.I.D.E. cycle | CRA office / A.-G.U.I.D.E. page | (561) 276-8640 · A.-G.U.I.D.E. |
| Confirm District / CRA-owned status | Property map + staff | Property Map · (561) 276-8640 |
Send one clean email or call script: property address, owner vs. tenant status, whether the building is CRA-owned, rough scope (paint/sign vs. interior build-out vs. residential exterior), and whether you have started any work. If you have already started, say so—staff can tell you honestly whether you are already outside eligibility.
Paint-Up & Signage: the districtwide commercial starting point
This is the program most Delray commercial owners and tenants can actually touch without being a CRA-owned-property tenant.
What it is: Matching help for exterior painting, pressure-cleaning prep, and exterior signage on existing commercial (and, per the Work Plan, multi-family) buildings in the CRA District.
Live dollar figure (guidelines + FY25–26 Work Plan): 50% of eligible exterior painting, pressure-cleaning, and signage costs, maximum $5,000 per applicant per year. Funding is annual and first-come, first-served; CRA Board approval is required.
How to apply: Download the fillable Funding Assistance Application and the Paint-Up & Signage Guidelines (PDF). Guidelines require meeting CRA staff before submitting, and the packet should include two estimates from licensed painters and/or sign companies (plus a total project budget if paint/signage is part of a larger renovation). Email the completed application to ClaytonG@mydelraybeach.com. Staff and marketing pages note review can take up to about four weeks.
Owner traps:
- Do not paint first. Guidelines and the Funding Assistance page: projects that begin before CRA Board approval are not eligible.
- Sub-Area #1 and #2 use limits. Marketing copy says “throughout the CRA District,” but the Paint-Up guidelines restrict Sub-Areas #1 and #2 to art galleries, art studios, office users, and personal service providers (as defined in the PDF). Confirm your use and sub-area with staff before you assume districtwide means your storefront.
- Ten-year / prior-award stacking. Guidelines bar re-applying if you previously received Paint-Up (or Site Development for painting/signage) within the last ten years, with limited expansion exceptions.
- Colors and City approvals. Unapproved colors, missing City licenses/permits, historic-designation claims without proof, and non-conforming uses are automatic outs.
- Residential structures are out of Paint-Up—use Curb Appeal instead if you are a NW/SW single-family or duplex owner.
Work Plan FY25–26 budgets commercial grant activity under a $500,000 CRA funding line that also covers Project Consultancy and Site Development. That is a program budget, not a promise that $5,000 is still available for your address—verify remaining funds with Clayton or the CRA main line.
Site Development Assistance: the CRA-owned tenant trap
Read this section twice if someone told you “Delray CRA will pay for your build-out.”
As of the live Funding Assistance page and the Feb. 28, 2023 guidelines still linked as controlling: Site Development Assistance is only available to new and existing tenants in CRA-owned properties. Private fee-simple commercial owners outside that ownership bucket should not budget Site Development dollars.
What it reimburses (guidelines examples): Landscaping/irrigation; façade/stucco/paint; storefront windows/doors; parking/driveways/sidewalks; lighting; signage; awnings; HVAC; ceilings/flooring; interior walls/doors; interior painting; MEP; permanent fixtures; hood/fire suppression; design, permitting, and engineering fees—among other listed eligible expenses.
Tier table (guidelines):
| Tier | Geography | Match / max |
|---|---|---|
| Tier One | High-priority Sub-Areas #3, #4, #7, #8 | 75% of eligible costs up to $75,000. New businesses only: 100% of the first $10,000, then 75% on remaining eligible costs, still capped at $75,000 total. |
| Tier Two | Other Sub-Areas #1, #2, #5, #6 (with use restrictions) | 40% of eligible costs up to $50,000. |
Guidelines define a “new business” tightly (first-time operation, not more than two years, not a relocate/rename of a prior operation). Single eligible line items over $25,000 may face a reduced reimbursement rate at Board discretion. Personal liability clawback language applies if the business does not remain at the funded location (10% liability that forgives 2% per year over five years per the guidelines).
Sub-Area use limits matter. Guidelines restrict Sub-Areas #1 and #2 to art galleries, art studios, office users, personal service providers, and retail (with office/personal-service definitions spelled out). Religious institutions, single-family, condo residential, dual-zoned residential components, and non-conforming uses are automatic ineligibles.
Process rule that kills awards: apply before construction. Projects underway before CRA Board approval can be auto-disqualified. Expect Board approval of the application and a Funding Agreement—not a handshake.
Primary PDF: Site Development Assistance Program Guidelines. Apply path starts at Funding Assistance · (561) 276-8640.
Project Consultancy & Design: plan before you dig
This is the companion tool for tenants who need professional design help before a Site Development build-out.
Who: Only new and existing tenants in CRA-owned properties, with emphasis on high-priority areas called out in the Apr. 1, 2026 guide—Northwest and Southwest Neighborhoods, West Atlantic Avenue corridor, and Osceola Park commercial area.
What: Project consultancy and professional design services sized to the project stage (scope, space planning, preliminary costs, City development services navigation), plus design services and permit-expediting help for leaseholders in good standing working toward site plan or building-permit issuance (Work Plan description).
Owner rule: Same as Site Development—apply before any construction. The Apr. 1, 2026 guide states projects that get underway prior to CRA Board approval can be automatically disqualified.
Guidelines PDF: Project Consultancy & Design Services Program Guidelines. Confirm remaining capacity and whether your CRA-owned address sits in a high-priority corridor with staff at (561) 276-8640.
Soft-flag owners should hear out loud
The FY25–26 Work Plan groups Paint-Up, Project Consultancy, and Site Development under a heading that reads “Grant Programs (CRA Owned Properties Only)” with a combined $500,000 CRA funding line. The live Funding Assistance page and Apr. 1, 2026 guide, however, state Paint-Up is available to businesses throughout the CRA District, while Consultancy and Site Development are limited to CRA-owned-property tenants. Do not invent a reconciled rule. Treat the Funding Assistance page + Paint-Up guidelines as the owner-facing eligibility map for Paint-Up, and confirm with Gina Clayton or the CRA main line if your project sits near that wording conflict.
Guidelines PDFs linked from the live site remain the Feb. 28, 2023 Board-approved versions. If staff hand you a newer sheet, the newer sheet controls—ask which document is binding for FY25–26 before you sign a contractor.
Curb Appeal Residential: NW / SW homeowners
Created in 2007 and still live on the Funding Assistance page and in the FY25–26 Work Plan ($600,000 CRA funding line for Curb Appeal).
Who: Owners of single-family homes and duplexes in the Northwest and Southwest Neighborhoods of the CRA District.
Award: Up to $15,000 for minor structural and cosmetic exterior improvements (Work Plan examples include exterior painting and pressure cleaning, siding repair, landscaping and irrigation, driveway repair, house numbers, mailbox replacement, roof repair or replacement).
Process notes from the live page: Annual budget; first-come, first-served; allow up to several weeks for application processing and project bids. Call (561) 243-7280 for eligibility and application help. Guidelines PDF: Curb Appeal Program Guidelines.
Commercial owners should not self-assign this form to a storefront. Residential owners should not self-assign Paint-Up.
Nonprofits: A.-G.U.I.D.E.
The Apr. 1, 2026 guide describes A.-G.U.I.D.E. (Achieving Goals Using Impact Driven Evaluation) as grant funding for nonprofits whose missions align with CRA redevelopment goals.
Eligibility frame (guide): 501(c)(3) in good standing with the State of Florida; housed in City- or CRA-owned facilities within the CRA District; programs that serve District residents or visitors. Applications are accepted on an annual cycle—confirm the current window on the A.-G.U.I.D.E. page or by calling (561) 276-8640.
Owner-impact translation: if your nonprofit leases private space outside City/CRA facilities, do not assume A.-G.U.I.D.E. fits. Confirm housing status first.
CLOSED developer tracks — budget honestly
The live Funding Assistance page is explicit:
- Development Infrastructure Assistance — recovers a portion of qualified site/public infrastructure spend on commercial development projects. Not accepting applications.
- Land Value Investment Program — long-term land lease path on CRA-owned property. Not accepting applications.
- Job Creation Bonus Program — bonuses tied to high-value new jobs (with possible adders for premium wages and Delray resident hires). Not accepting applications.
That closed status is the point of this section. Do not write a pro forma that assumes these awards reopen on your timeline. Recheck the Funding Assistance page before every board package.
Owner checklist: one sitting before you call a contractor
- Confirm your address is inside the CRA District on the property map.
- Write down: fee owner vs. tenant; whether the building is CRA-owned; commercial vs. residential; nonprofit housing status if relevant.
- Match the ladder: Paint-Up (districtwide commercial exterior) vs. Consultancy/Site Development (CRA-owned tenants only) vs. Curb Appeal (NW/SW residential) vs. A.-G.U.I.D.E. (qualified nonprofits) vs. CLOSED developer tools.
- Download the right guideline PDF and the fillable application before soliciting final contractor start dates.
- For Paint-Up: gather two licensed estimates; email ClaytonG@mydelraybeach.com.
- For Site Development / Consultancy: call (561) 276-8640, confirm CRA-owned tenancy and Tier geography (#3/#4/#7/#8 vs. other), and do not mobilize construction.
- For Curb Appeal: call (561) 243-7280 early—first-come annual funding.
- Re-read the closed list if you are a developer.
- Keep the Apr. 1, 2026 owner guide and the Funding Assistance hub bookmarked; figures and open/closed status can move with Board action and fiscal-year budgets.
How this sits next to WPB and Broward
Delray’s stack is narrower and more ownership-gated than many owners expect after reading a West Palm Beach façade map. In Delray, the big Site Development dollars (75% / $75,000 Tier One; 40% / $50,000 Tier Two) are not a general commercial entitlement—they are tied to CRA-owned property tenancy. Paint-Up at 50% / $5,000 is the broad commercial exterior tool. Residential Curb Appeal at up to $15,000 is a separate NW/SW homeowner track. Developer infrastructure, land-lease, and job-bonus tools are closed.
For neighboring geographies without rehashing those packages: use the Gazette’s WPB CRA + DDA incentives map for West Palm Beach desks and dollars, and the Broward CRA grants overview for Broward calendars. Each city keeps its own ladder.
Bottom line for owners
Start with the Apr. 1, 2026 guide and the live Funding Assistance page. If you are a typical commercial operator in the District, Paint-Up & Signage via Gina Clayton is the realistic first call. If you are a tenant inside a CRA-owned building, ask about Project Consultancy and Site Development before any demolition or paint. If you are a NW/SW homeowner, call the Curb Appeal line. If you are chasing Development Infrastructure, Land Value Investment, or Job Creation Bonus money, the live page says those doors are closed—plan accordingly, and never start construction before approval.
