Fort Lauderdale NPF CRA Incentives Map for Owners: Progresso, Historic Sistrunk, and Flagler Heights

By Brian D’Antoni Sundaze Gazette · Sept. 9, 2026

AI assisted research and drafting; human editorial standards apply; Brian D’Antoni approves publish.

If you own or operate commercial space inside Fort Lauderdale’s Northwest-Progresso-Flagler Heights Community Redevelopment Area—Historic Sistrunk, Progresso Village, Flagler Village / Flagler Heights—the useful question is not “does the CRA have grants?” It is which program is LIVE, what it actually pays for, whether your parcel sits in the Focus Area, and what you must not start before written CRA approval.

This Broward owner map is the twin to the live Palm Beach package, West Palm Beach CRA + DDA Incentives Map. Different geography, different staff desk, different dollar tables. Do not copy a West Palm Beach façade or CCTV number onto a Sistrunk or Progresso bid.

Canonical LIVE hub: CRA Incentive Programs. General CRA phone for program fit questions: (954) 828-6130. Program pages below are the controlling public source for eligibility language and published caps as of this package; where a figure is not on the live page, this Gazette flags the gap rather than inventing one.

How to use this map in one sitting

Bookmark these before you call:

1. 1. CRA Incentive Programs hub
2. 2. Non-Residential Façade Improvement Program (NRFIP)
3. 3. Property and Business Improvement Program (PBIP)
4. 4. Streetscape Enhancement Program (SEP)
5. 5. Development Incentive Program (DIP)
6. 6. Property Safety Enhancement Program (PSEP)
7. 7. CRA home / district context: fortlauderdalecra.com

Then answer three questions in writing: (A) Is my address inside the NPF CRA—and am I in the published Focus Area along Sistrunk / 7th / 9th? (B) Am I the fee owner, or a tenant who will need owner authorization? (C) Is my scope exterior façade, interior/exterior capital improvement, public ROW streetscape, large-scale $5M+ development, or corridor safety/security?

Wrong geography is the most expensive “almost eligible” mistake. Neighborhood marketing names (Progresso, Flagler Village, Historic Sistrunk) are not the same as a staff-confirmed CRA parcel check.

LIVE desk map and Focus Area

Primary contact for incentive-program questions: Fort Lauderdale CRA — (954) 828-6130 (stated on the incentive hub).

PSEP program coordinators (published on the PSEP page):

Role	Name	Phone	Email
Program Coordinator	Jonelle Adderley	954-828-4508	Jadderley@fortlauderdale.gov
Program Coordinator	Deborah Martinez	954-828-8229	DMartinez@fortlauderdale.gov

CRA office (PSEP page): 1901 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 · Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding City holidays. Submit completed PSEP applications by email or in person during those hours.

Published Focus Area (repeated across NRFIP, PBIP, SEP, and DIP pages): Sistrunk Boulevard between NW 24 Avenue and the FEC Railway, including one block north and south of Sistrunk Boulevard; plus 9th Avenue (between Sunrise Boulevard and Broward Boulevard) and 7th Avenue (between Sunrise Boulevard and Broward Boulevard). Focus Area status can change match rates and equity rules—confirm your parcel with staff before you budget the owner share.

Cross-cutting live-hub rules: Programs are subject to funding availability, eligibility, and CRA Board and/or City approval. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The hub also states applicants should review individual guidelines for funding limits, procedures, and reimbursement requirements.

LIVE — Non-Residential Façade Improvement Program (NRFIP)

Source: NRFIP program page.

What it is: Forgivable-loan assistance for commercial property owners renovating existing structures in the NPF CRA—exterior capital improvements.

Who / where: Existing buildings in the NPF CRA designed and used for non-residential use, or mixed-use with commercial/retail/service/office as permitted by City ULDR. Project must comply with the CRA Redevelopment Plan, urban design guidelines, land-use rules, and current code.

What it pays for (published eligible costs): Exterior improvements including entry doors, windows, lighting, shade canopy, sidewalks, signage, and parking facilities; restoration/rehabilitation of exterior building; design and permitting costs (architectural, engineering, permit and application fees) tied to those exterior improvements.

Published basis / limits (do not invent beyond this): Forgivable loan for up to 90% of eligible project costs not to exceed $125,000. In the Focus Area: forgivable loan for up to 100% of eligible costs not to exceed $75,000; project costs above that initial $75,000 may be funded if the owner provides a 5% cash investment of the additional cost.

Owner obligations called out on the page: Job creation/retention or another approved performance indicator may be required. Awards carry ongoing obligations/covenants, including but not limited to a lien on the applicant’s property. Multiple structures on one property may be considered structure-by-structure at CRA Board (and/or designee) discretion.

Owner move: Call (954) 828-6130, confirm Focus Area vs. general CRA match, and ask which Guidelines/Application packet is current for FY before you bid exterior work.

LIVE — Property and Business Improvement Program (PBIP)

Source: PBIP program page.

What it is: Broader capital-improvement forgivable loan to attract, retain, and grow businesses—interior and exterior—including some new construction paths.

Who / where: Existing non-residential or mixed-use buildings in the NPF CRA, and construction of new non-residential or mixed-use buildings, subject to CRA plan, design guidelines, and City requirements. Same Focus Area definition as NRFIP.

What it pays for (published): Interior and exterior renovation of existing non-residential buildings, including permanently attached fixtures or systems; costs of new non-residential building construction; architectural, engineering, permit fees, application fees, property taxes, tax liens, City liens, and property insurance (as listed on the program page); commercial kitchen improvements and permanently attached commercial-grade kitchen equipment/systems when they meet listed industry and local health/safety standards.

Published basis / limits: Forgivable loan for up to 75% of eligible costs not to exceed $225,000. In the Focus Area: up to 90% of eligible costs not to exceed $225,000. Focus Area owner equity for requests that do not exceed $150,000 is determined case-by-case. Outside Focus Area, the page states the business/property owner may be required to invest at least a dollar-for-dollar match; CRA contribution cannot exceed the documented owner contribution. CRA Board may consider increasing funding limits and equity rules case-by-case.

Contractor note on the page: Documented contractor selection process required; City recommends its approved contractor list; a CRA/City-approved contractor must be used when 60% or more of costs are paid by the CRA; contractors on the City/CRA list must be invited to bid.

Owner obligations: Job creation/retention or other performance indicators may apply; lien/covenant language applies.

LIVE — Streetscape Enhancement Program (SEP)

Source: SEP program page.

What it is: Forgivable-loan support for enhanced public right-of-way / streetscape work tied to commercial or mixed-use properties—features beyond mandatory City requirements.

Who / where: Streetscape improvements for existing or new non-residential/mixed-use buildings in the NPF CRA. Same Focus Area definition.

What it pays for (published): Enhanced streetscape on or within the public ROW—examples include landscaped medians and plantings, street trees, benches, streetlights, fences, yards, porches, and awnings—consistent with CRA street design guidelines, the Redevelopment Plan, Complete Streets guidelines, CRA Implementation Plan, Downtown Master Plan (as applicable), Connectivity Master Plan, and City/county/state roadway design rules.

Published basis / limits: Forgivable loan for up to 70% of eligible costs not to exceed $500,000. In the Focus Area: up to 90% not to exceed $500,000. Board may increase limits case-by-case. Lien/covenant language applies. Job creation/retention or other performance indicators may apply. Documented GC/subcontractor selection process; City/CRA list contractors must be invited to bid.

Owner move: Treat SEP as a ROW/streetscape track, not a storefront paint job. Confirm with (954) 828-6130 whether your scope is SEP, NRFIP façade, or both—and whether stacking the same dollars is allowed.

LIVE — Development Incentive Program (DIP)

Source: DIP program page.

What it is: Customized incentive for significant redevelopment—generally $5 million or more total investment / project cost—and a significant economic engine, destination, or redevelopment opportunity in the NPF CRA. The CRA may use any of its incentive tools and options, including tax abatement, fee waivers, land donation and/or purchase, and related structures as described on the page.

Match rule (published): Owner must invest at least a dollar-for-dollar match of the NPF CRA investment; CRA contribution cannot exceed the documented owner contribution.

Published award shape: Forgivable loan or low-interest loan with no minimum or maximum amount stated on the DIP page; staff reviews and recommends a funding plan/strategy and amount to the Advisory Board and CRA Board.

Eligible costs (published generally): Costs associated with the desired redevelopment project, including acquisition, rehabilitation, and fees/fines as framed on the page, subject to Plan compliance and City Planning / Code / CRA review.

Owner move: DIP is not a fill-out-and-forget façade form. Call (954) 828-6130 early with total project cost, uses, and timeline if you are at or above the $5M threshold.

LIVE — Property Safety Enhancement Program (PSEP)

Sources: PSEP program page; May 7, 2026 CRA Board approval news; guidelines/application and flyer linked from the PSEP page (guidelines PDF, flyer PDF).

What it is: Conditional reimbursement for approved safety and security upgrades along eligible commercial corridors in the NPF CRA (news materials also reference Central City CRA; this map is the NPF twin—confirm corridor eligibility with staff). Built with Fort Lauderdale Police Department Environmental Crime Unit / CPTED principles.

Who (published eligibility): Commercial property owner, business tenant, or qualifying community-serving nonprofit; property in a commercial business corridor / focus area in the NPF CRA; tenants need written owner authorization; current City Business Tax Receipt; no outstanding code violations or open code cases at application; pre-screening safety assessment with FLPD; staff makes final eligibility calls.

What it pays for (published examples): Access control (key cards, pin codes, biometrics); intrusion detection / alarms; CCTV; fencing, locks, gates, reinforced doors; hurricane impact-resistant windows and doors; exterior/perimeter and parking-lot lighting; fire safety systems, signage, alarms, sprinklers, panic buttons; emergency communications; CPTED landscape/environmental design that improves visibility and access control. Other safety items may be considered at CRA discretion.

Published funding / payment: Reimbursement after completion. Total improvement costs under $13,333.33 → assistance up to $7,500. Costs of $13,333.33 or more → assistance up to $10,000. Applicant pays contractors; reimbursement after permits/inspections, proof of payment, and CRA final inspection. Work started or completed before written CRA approval and execution of the funding agreement is not eligible. Limited funding; first-qualified, first-served, subject to availability. May 5, 2026 Board news framed reimbursement as up to 75% of approved costs with funding available up to $10,000 per property—use the live PSEP page tiers as the owner working numbers and confirm remaining funds with Adderley/Martinez.

Hard rule: Do not start cameras, lighting, or fencing “to get ahead.” Pre-agreement spend is not reimbursable under published PSEP terms.

CLOSED — say this honestly to owners

From the live incentive hub Program Availability Notice:

• NPF CRA Purchase Assistance Program — no longer available.
• NPF CRA Property Tax Reimbursement Program — no longer available.
• Residential Enhancement Program — currently not accepting applications.

Residential Enhancement context (for honesty, not as an open commercial tool): when open, the program reimburses approved street-visible exterior improvements to eligible single-family homes in the NPF CRA up to $10,000 per property, with written CRA approval required before work (REP page; CLOSED capacity notice). The CLOSED notice asks owners to call (954) 828-6130 for a notification list if slots reopen. Coordinators listed there match PSEP: Deborah Martinez (954-828-8229) and Jonelle Adderley (954-828-4508).

Optional city (not CRA) note — Business Mural Grant: The City of Fort Lauderdale relaunched a Business Mural Grant (five awards of $5,000 each for permanent, street-visible murals by professional artists). Application deadline was Friday, July 31, 2026—as of this Sept. 9, 2026 package that window is closed. CRA news: Fort Lauderdale Relaunches Business Mural Grant Program. City Cultural Affairs contact listed there: Joshua Carden, jcarden@fortlauderdale.gov, 954-828-5044. This is a city public-art track, not an NPF CRA façade forgivable loan—do not confuse the two.

Palm Beach counterpart (brief)

Owners who also hold West Palm Beach inventory should use the separate live map—West Palm Beach CRA + DDA Incentives Map—for Downtown/City Center, Historic Northwest, Northwood/Pleasant City, Broadway Corridor, Community Safety CCTV, and DDA façade rules. That package’s desks and dollar tables do not transfer to Fort Lauderdale NPF.

Cross-cutting rules: geography, early start, liens, funding

Confirm geography. Ask CRA staff to confirm your parcel against NPF CRA boundaries and the Focus Area (Sistrunk / 7th / 9th definition above). Do not self-certify from a realtor listing neighborhood name.

Do not start early. PSEP is explicit: no reimbursement for work before written CRA approval and executed funding agreement. Residential Enhancement (when open) likewise requires written approval before work. For NRFIP, PBIP, SEP, and DIP, default owner posture until staff says otherwise in writing: do not mobilize contractor scopes you expect the CRA to fund before agreement/approval. Call (954) 828-6130 and ask the question on the record.

Liens and performance. NRFIP, PBIP, SEP, and DIP pages state ongoing obligations/covenants that may include a property lien; job creation/retention or other performance measures may be required. Budget legal review of the agreement before you treat an award as free cash.

Funding is finite. Hub language: subject to funding availability and Board/City approval; application ≠ award. PSEP: first-qualified, first-served. Always ask whether the pot for your program still has capacity this fiscal year.

Stacking. Do not assume NRFIP façade dollars, PBIP interior dollars, SEP streetscape dollars, and PSEP cameras automatically stack on the same invoice lines. Ask staff which scopes can run together and which cannot.

Gaps this package will not invent (confirm with staff): Exact current remaining FY balances for each LIVE program; whether any Board amendment after the published program-page language changed a match rate or cap; downloadable Guidelines/Application file URLs for NRFIP/PBIP/SEP/DIP beyond the hub’s “Guidelines / Application” links (PSEP’s May 2026 PDF is linked on its page); precise lien forgiveness schedule and term length; whether your corridor qualifies for PSEP if you are not on the Sistrunk commercial corridor language the PSEP page emphasizes; revival timeline for Purchase Assistance, Property Tax Reimbursement, or Residential Enhancement application slots; whether a future mural cycle will reopen after July 31, 2026. An August 2019 incentives PDF still hosted on the CRA site is historical context only—treat live program pages as controlling and ask staff if anything in your old packet conflicts.

Owner checklist (print this)

• [ ] Confirm address is inside NPF CRA with CRA staff at (954) 828-6130; ask Focus Area yes/no.
• [ ] Decide owner vs. tenant path; if tenant, prepare written owner authorization (required for PSEP; often needed elsewhere).
• [ ] Pull current City of Fort Lauderdale Business Tax Receipt; clear open code cases before applying (PSEP requires no outstanding violations).
• [ ] Photograph elevations, entries, and public-facing corners.
• [ ] Match scope to one primary LIVE track: NRFIP (exterior), PBIP (interior/exterior capital / kitchen / new build), SEP (enhanced ROW streetscape), DIP ($5M+ custom), or PSEP (corridor safety).
• [ ] Get written contractor estimates that mirror published eligible uses; for PBIP/SEP note City/CRA contractor-list invite rules.
• [ ] For PSEP: schedule FLPD pre-screening / CPTED path; download guidelines + application; contact Adderley or Martinez; wait for written approval + executed agreement before any work.
• [ ] Ask explicitly: remaining funds? Board calendar? reimbursement vs. forgivable loan mechanics? lien/covenant terms? stacking for this scope?
• [ ] Do not start façade, streetscape, kitchen, or security work you expect CRA to fund until staff confirms approval timing in writing.
• [ ] Keep one folder: application, estimates, photos before/after, permits, paid invoices, agreement, W-9 if requested.
• [ ] If you only wanted Purchase Assistance, Property Tax Reimbursement, Residential Enhancement slots, or the July 31 mural window—treat those as CLOSED and ask about notification lists, not workarounds.

FAQs

I am on Sistrunk—do I automatically get Focus Area match rates? Focus Area is defined as Sistrunk between NW 24 Avenue and the FEC Railway (one block north and south), plus 7th and 9th Avenues between Sunrise and Broward. Confirm your parcel; do not assume every Sistrunk address qualifies the same way.

NRFIP vs. PBIP—which one for a storefront plus interior build-out? NRFIP is exterior-focused on existing structures. PBIP covers interior and exterior capital improvements (and certain new construction), including commercial kitchen paths. Staff at (954) 828-6130 should tell you which form matches—or whether scopes split across programs.

What is the published NRFIP cap? Up to 90% / $125,000 generally; Focus Area up to 100% / $75,000, with possible additional funding if the owner puts 5% cash on costs above that $75,000. Confirm remaining funds and Focus Area status before bidding.

What is the published PBIP cap? Up to 75% / $225,000 generally; Focus Area up to 90% / $225,000, with case-by-case equity rules and possible dollar-for-dollar match outside Focus Area. Confirm with staff.

What is the published SEP cap? Up to 70% / $500,000 generally; Focus Area up to 90% / $500,000. Enhanced ROW features only—not a substitute for code-minimum sidewalk work unless staff says otherwise.

Is DIP a fixed grant amount? No published min/max award dollar on the DIP page. Threshold is generally $5 million+ total investment; custom structure; dollar-for-dollar owner match required. Staff recommends a plan to Advisory Board and CRA Board.

Can I install cameras this weekend and apply Monday under PSEP? No. Published PSEP rule: work before written CRA approval and executed funding agreement is not reimbursable. Call Adderley (954-828-4508) or Martinez (954-828-8229) first.

What are the PSEP dollar tiers? Under $13,333.33 total improvements → up to $7,500. At/above that threshold → up to $10,000. Reimbursement after completion, permits, proof of payment, and CRA inspection.

Are Purchase Assistance and Property Tax Reimbursement coming back? Live hub: both are no longer available. No revival date published on that notice. Ask (954) 828-6130 for status; do not budget them.

Is Residential Enhancement open for my single-family house? Hub: not accepting applications. CLOSED capacity notice: call (954) 828-6130 for a notification list. When open, published assistance was up to $10,000 for approved exterior work with pre-approval required.

Did I miss the Business Mural Grant? City mural applications closed July 31, 2026. Contact Joshua Carden (jcarden@fortlauderdale.gov / 954-828-5044) only for city mural questions—not as a CRA façade substitute.

Where is the Palm Beach twin map? https://www.sundazegazette.com/west-palm-beach-cra-dda-incentives-map-cctv-facade-2026/

What to do this week

Monday–Tuesday: Email or call CRA at (954) 828-6130 with your street address in the subject/opening line. Ask: NPF CRA yes/no? Focus Area yes/no? Which LIVE program fits this scope? Attach two elevation photos.

Wednesday: If corridor safety is the need, open the PSEP page, download the guidelines/application PDF, and contact Adderley or Martinez about FLPD pre-screening—do not buy cameras yet.

Thursday: For façade or interior capital scopes, read NRFIP and PBIP, then ask staff which Guidelines/Application packet is current and whether Focus Area match applies.

Friday: If your project is $5M+ or heavy ROW streetscape, open DIP / SEP and request a staff call on custom structure, match, and Board calendar.

Do not: mobilize contractors “pending paperwork,” invent a dollar cap that is not on the live program page, assume Purchase Assistance or Residential slots are quietly open, or paste West Palm Beach CRA/DDA numbers onto a Fort Lauderdale NPF bid.

Source anchors (keep these open)

• CRA Incentive Programs (LIVE hub)
• fortlauderdalecra.com
• NRFIP
• PBIP
• SEP
• DIP
• PSEP · PSEP guidelines PDF · PSEP flyer PDF
• PSEP Board approval news (May 7, 2026)
• Residential Enhancement · REP applications CLOSED notice
• Business Mural Grant news (deadline July 31, 2026)
• Palm Beach twin: WPB CRA + DDA incentives map
• Contacts: CRA (954) 828-6130 · Jonelle Adderley 954-828-4508 / Jadderley@fortlauderdale.gov · Deborah Martinez 954-828-8229 / DMartinez@fortlauderdale.gov · mural (City) Joshua Carden jcarden@fortlauderdale.gov / 954-828-5044

Figures change when boards amend programs or when fiscal-year pots run down. Treat staff confirmation as the last mile before you bid, mobilize, or stack.