Three businesses in South Cape CRA to receive B2B grants
Three South Cape businesses will get Breaking Barriers to Business Program grants.
The awards, which totaled more than $70,000, were approved during the South Cape Redevelopment Agency meeting Wednesday.
The first applicant approved was Palace Pub & Wine Bar for a total grant award of $33,894.
The business, at 1404 Cape Coral Parkway East, moved to a smaller unit. The total project investment was $169,469 and included installing a new ADA-compliant restroom, bar sink plumbing, interior wall framing with metal studs, repairs to the two-hour firewall, electrical upgrades, HVAC ductwork, drywall installation, acoustic ceiling, interior painting and finishes and constructing a bar knee wall and countertop.
The second grant approved was for Nice Guys Pizza, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway East, for $28,520. The total project investment was $142,602 for an addition of a 1,200 square foot aluminum panel roof to provide year-round outdoor seating, as well as improvements to the parking lot.
The final grant, of $7,817, was awarded to LadyCakes Bakery, 447 Cape Coral Parkway East Unit 102 and 103 after some discussion on how the program is administered.
The B2B program began in May 2023 to assist eligible business and developers with costs incurred in meeting the requirements of the city’s land development, Florida Building, and fire codes.
The grants are capped at 20% of the total investment and a maximum of a $50,000 reimbursement.
Cape Coral City Council sits as the CRA commission.
Mayor John Gunter said the business grants are paid through property taxes by those located in the CRA district through both city and county taxes.
“If you don’t live in the CRA you are not paying a dime,” he said.
“The people living in the CRA are footing the bill between the city and county taxes — 80-90% of the taxpayers within the boundaries of the CRA are businesses. Businesses are actually paying for these incentives.”
LadyCakes Bakery owner Bess Charles was happy to receive the money.
She said they have served the Cape Coral and Southwest Florida area for nearly two decades. The bakery began as a home-based bakery before opening its original location on Del Prado Boulevard. They relocated into the South Cape in 2024.
“In 2024, we were forced into a renovation and location switch,” she said, which resulted in a major construction process.
Charles was told about the B2B grant from city staff and so sought to recover some of the construction costs.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com