A new Mexican restaurant was approved to receive $25,000 in rental assistance through a city program that incentivizes retail businesses to open locations in downtown Orlando.
On Monday, Orlando City Council commissioners unanimously approved a $25,000 rental assistance grant for F&D Cantina, which opened a new location in downtown Orlando earlier this year.
F&D Cantina, which operated a location in Lake Mary for four years, opened its new location in downtown Orlando at 617 E Central Boulevard, in the Thornton Park district.
According to city records, in 2010, city officials created the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Retail Stimulus Program in order to attract retail operators and to improve buildouts of new retail establishments within the area.
In 2020, the program was amended to allow qualifying businesses to be eligible for up to $75,000 or 50% of the total cost of tenant improvements-related costs, whichever is less, as well as to allow a one-time award of up to $25,000 to cover rent expenses.