Pinellas County and our Housing Compact partners incentivize affordable housing through a mix of local, state and federal funds from HUD, the State of Florida’s State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP) and other sources. The County has also committed more than $90 million in local funds since 2020 through a limited portion of the Penny for Pinellas sales tax (4.15%).
The County is looking for a variety of applicants, including developers who specialize in affordable housing and those who traditionally build market-rate developments, as well as municipal and nonprofit partners. Watch the video to hear what one traditional developer had to say about how this partnership changed his plans to provide homes for local teachers and other workers.
Applicants will be considered for a variety of countywide programs. Many developers apply both to Pinellas County and one of Compact partner cities to maximize affordable and workforce housing incentives. Learn more about Local City Affordable Housing Programs.
HOW TO APPLY
- Income Qualification: To qualify, prospective projects must include affordable units for income-qualified households.
- Project Prioritization: The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has adopted program guidelines to prioritize projects based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, range of incomes served, number of units, and financial commitment by the project developer. These guidelines were developed by a countywide committee including local municipal agency partners.
- Review Process: Applications for the program are taken on a rolling basis throughout the year. Builders and developers with projects in Pinellas County that meet program requirements are welcome to complete the application process to begin staff review.
- Eligible Project Types: The County will consider both small and large-scale projects that provide rental or homeownership opportunities. Our program includes deferred payment or reduced interest rate loans that may be used to assist with down payments, closing costs, construction, rehabilitation, and soft costs associated with the development. Learn more about support for Affordable Rental Housing Development and Affordable Housing Development for Homebuyers.
For more information, contact Pinellas County Community Development at (727) 464-8210 or srayman@pinellas.gov.
Accomplishments
Since 2020, we’ve committed more than $90 million in local dollars to generate more than $860 million in private investment to build safe, qualify homes for workers, families and seniors. We have completed dozens of mid to large-scale developments that are now home to more than 3,000 individuals and families, including mixed-income apartments, workforce/affordable housing and affordable rentals designed specifically to serve seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities and others.
Project Examples
