Gainesville offers $2M in grants to revitalize NE Eighth/Waldo Rd area
Published on January 09, 2026
The City of Gainesville soon will begin accepting applications from property owners who qualify for one of four categories of improvement grants aimed at updating homes, businesses and vacant lots along Eighth Avenue and Waldo Road.
Approved by the Gainesville City Commission last October, the program is funded by the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) as part of the city’s Eighth and Waldo transformational project. The GCRA is a 10-year program (2019-2029) that is funded by the city and Alachua County.
“We’ve talked extensively about our community’s vision for modernizing Citizens Field and the Martin Luther King Jr. Multipurpose Center,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey L. Ward. “Using a portion of that funding to bring fresh renovation into the neighborhoods is exciting.”
Each of the four funding opportunities targets a different outcome, with guidelines in place to increase safety, encourage economic growth and enhance neighborhood identity and pride. Owners of the approximately 91 homes and businesses in the designated corridors can apply for grants aimed at boosting curb appeal, upgrading lighting and accessibility, remodeling existing buildings, or developing vacant parcels. Awards vary in size, with lower amounts of up to $7,500 for smaller homes and as much as $100,000 for commercial and institutional sites.
“The program provides financial incentives to help home and property owners make important upgrades,” said GCRA Director Rick Smith. “We hope the additional public investment will spark a wave of redevelopment that leads to commercial expansion, job creation and private sector partnerships.”
The first phase of the program is launching this month with an educational campaign aimed at eligible homeowners, small landlords, churches and businesses in the outlined area. Over the coming weeks, the GCRA will host a series of community engagement sessions to share more detailed information about eligibility criteria, acceptable plans and the program’s four funding levels. These sessions will also help potential recipients navigate the application process and begin preparing strong project proposals.
With a rolling application deadline, funding will remain available to qualified applicants through future phases of the program. Information about property criteria, a map of both corridors, and an explanation of grant categories is posted on the Economic Development Eighth & Waldo section of the city’s website. Application dates and guidance on how to apply will be shared at the upcoming community meetings.
Potential applicants are encouraged to email GCRAprograms@gainesvillefl.gov for more information.