South Florida Owner Deadlines and Grants: Week of Nov. 1

Business & Policy

South Florida owner deadlines for Nov. 1 to 7, 2026: the 4% property tax discount, a Lauderdale Lakes pitch deadline, two free workshops and open grants.

By Brian D'Antoni November 1, 2026 7 min read

As of Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Updated every Sunday with the week ahead.

The first week of November brings a short list of dates that matter to South Florida business owners and property owners. Property tax bills become payable with the biggest early discount of the year, a Lauderdale Lakes pitch competition closes applications, two free small business workshops open their doors in West Palm Beach and Davie, and two storefront grant windows in Palm Beach County stay open for months. Each item below was checked against the agency or organizer that runs it.

The anchor date is Sunday, Nov. 1. Under section 197.162 of the Florida Statutes, taxes paid in November earn a 4% discount, falling one point each month after that. The Broward County Tax Collector explains the schedule for its bills, and the same state law applies in Palm Beach and Miami Dade.

Sunday, Nov. 1: Property Tax Discount Window Opens

Florida property tax bills are mailed around Nov. 1, and payment in November earns the full 4% discount. The state law sets the schedule: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Under section 197.333, taxes become delinquent on April 1, or 60 days after the original tax notice is mailed if that is later.

For a business that owns its building, or owns furniture, fixtures and equipment subject to tangible personal property tax, the November discount is the largest single break on the bill. On a $20,000 bill, paying in November instead of March saves $800.

The Broward County Tax Collector notes that payments mailed must carry a postmark within the discount period to receive that month's rate. Owners who would rather spread payments across the year can use the installment plan, which requires an application filed with the tax collector by April 30 to start the following tax year.

Owners in Palm Beach and Miami Dade follow the same statute through their own tax collector offices, which mail their own bills and post their own payment options. Owners who did not receive a bill by mid November should contact their county tax collector. Section 197.122 says all owners "are held to know that taxes are due and payable annually" and must pay before April 1.

Broward County Tax Collector: (954) 357 4829.
What to have ready: the account or folio number on the bill and the payment method.

Monday, Nov. 2: Lauderdale Lakes Pitch Competition Applications Close

The City of Lauderdale Lakes opened applications on Oct. 19 for its small business pitch competition, and the window closes Nov. 2. The city lists three awards of $7,000 each, with the live pitch event set for Nov. 19.

Eligibility is narrow. The city says the competition is open only to participants in its small business program, and awards are limited to businesses holding a Lauderdale Lakes Business Tax Receipt. An owner who is not already in the program cannot enter this round, but the city's economic development staff can explain how to join future cycles.

For eligible owners, the remaining work this weekend is the application itself. A pitch competition judges clarity as much as numbers, so a short statement of what the business does, who pays for it, how $7,000 would be spent and what result it would produce is the core of a strong entry.

City of Lauderdale Lakes: (954) 535 2700.
Deadline: Monday, Nov. 2.

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Startup Essentials Workshop in West Palm Beach

The City of West Palm Beach and the Florida SBDC at FAU host "Launching Smart in Florida: A Startup Essentials Workshop & Networking" from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the third floor auditorium of the Mandel Public Library, 411 Clematis Street. Admission is free with registration on the event page.

The session covers business planning, legal structure, registration and licensing, and an introduction to city programs for entrepreneurs, followed by networking. It is designed for people at the idea or early stage who want to sort out the order of their first steps. The Gazette's full guide to free SBDC coaching explains what follows after a session like this one.

City of West Palm Beach: (561) 822 1200.

Friday, Nov. 6: SBIR and NSF Pitch Workshop in Davie

The Florida SBDC at FAU and the Town of Davie host a free Lunch and Learn on federal research funding on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Alan B. Levan NSU Broward Center of Innovation, 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Boulevard, fifth floor. The listing shows the session running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration runs through the Eventbrite listing.

The workshop walks founders through the Small Business Innovation Research program and the National Science Foundation Project Pitch, the short first step that NSF uses to invite full proposals. The agenda adds one on one consultations after the main session. It suits tech, health, engineering and research based startups that could qualify for nondilutive federal funding.

Florida SBDC at FAU: through the event listing.

Open All Week: Lake Worth Beach CRA Commercial Grants

The Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency lists its commercial grant applications as open from Oct. 1, 2026, through May 28, 2027. The CRA's programs include interior and facade improvement grants of up to $55,000 with a 50% match, signage grants of up to $5,000 and infrastructure assistance of up to $250,000 for qualifying projects inside the CRA district.

The grants reimburse approved work, so owners should apply and receive approval before starting. Bids from licensed contractors, photos of the current space and proof of ownership or landlord consent are standard parts of a CRA application. Owners should confirm their address sits inside the district before investing time in a package.

Lake Worth Beach CRA: (561) 493 2550.

Open All Week: West Palm Beach Downtown Facade Grant

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority opened its FY 26 27 Facade Improvement grant on Oct. 15, and applications run through Aug. 31, 2027. The grant covers up to 50% of exterior costs, capped at $10,000 for a storefront and $20,000 for a stand alone building or a facade of more than 25,000 square feet.

Applications are reviewed in the order received, and funds go first come, first served. The DDA requires written approval before work starts, two verifiable bids, a current city Business Tax Receipt and a clean lien and tax record. The city's own economic development office invited owners to apply for its separate grants on Oct. 19, and the Gazette's West Palm CRA and DDA incentives map lays out how the city, CRA and DDA programs fit together.

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority: (561) 833 8873.

How to Use This List

Each Sunday, this list gathers the dates that can cost or earn a South Florida owner money in the week ahead. Three habits help make it useful.

Put the hard deadlines on a calendar the day they appear, with a reminder two days earlier.
Read the eligibility lines first. Many local programs are limited to a city, a district or an existing program cohort.
Keep a current Business Tax Receipt, a recent W 9, photos of the property and a short business description in one folder, since almost every grant asks for them.

Free workshops are worth attending even when a grant does not fit. SBDC consultants and city economic development staff often know about programs before they are widely announced, and a short conversation can save weeks of searching.

Week at a Glance

Sunday, Nov. 1: Property tax discount of 4% begins for November payments.
Monday, Nov. 2: Lauderdale Lakes pitch competition applications close.
Wednesday, Nov. 4: Startup essentials workshop, Mandel Public Library, West Palm Beach, 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 6: SBIR and NSF Project Pitch workshop, NSU Broward Center of Innovation, Davie.
All week: Lake Worth Beach CRA commercial grants and West Palm Beach DDA facade grant remain open.

Sources

Key Facts

When is the Florida property tax discount highest in 2026?

Under section 197.162 of the Florida Statutes, property taxes paid in November earn a 4% discount, the largest of the year. The discount drops to 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Bills go out around Nov. 1, and under section 197.333 unpaid taxes become delinquent on April 1 in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami Dade.

When does the Lauderdale Lakes pitch competition close?

Applications for the City of Lauderdale Lakes small business pitch competition opened Oct. 19 and close Monday, Nov. 2. The city lists three awards of $7,000, with the pitch event on Nov. 19. Entry is limited to participants in the city's small business program, and awards go only to Lauderdale Lakes Business Tax Receipt holders.

What free business workshops are in South Florida Nov. 1 to 7?

Two free sessions run this week. West Palm Beach and the Florida SBDC at FAU host a startup essentials workshop Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mandel Public Library. On Friday, Nov. 6, the SBDC and Davie host an SBIR and NSF Project Pitch workshop at the NSU Broward Center of Innovation.

Which storefront grants are open in Palm Beach County now?

The Lake Worth Beach CRA accepts commercial grant applications from Oct. 1, 2026, through May 28, 2027, with facade and interior grants up to $55,000 at a 50% match. The West Palm Beach DDA facade grant runs Oct. 15, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027, covering up to 50% with caps of $10,000 or $20,000.

Who do owners call about this week's deadlines?

Broward tax questions go to the Broward County Tax Collector at (954) 357 4829. Lauderdale Lakes pitch questions go to the city at (954) 535 2700. The Lake Worth Beach CRA is at (561) 493 2550, the West Palm Beach DDA at (561) 833 8873 and the City of West Palm Beach at (561) 822 1200.

Filed Under Business & Policy Events & Deadlines Grants & Money Small Business