The City of Kissimmee announced late last week it has expanded its Residential Property Improvement Program (RPIP) to include the Vine Street Community Redevelopment Agency (VSCRA) and updated it for the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (DKCRA), enhancing support for local homeowners.
Additionally, a Department of Justice grant will provide $750,000 to fund six new sworn Kissimmee Police Department officers.
Thanks to the RPIP, eligible homeowners within the city’s CRA boundaries can receive reimbursable grants not to exceed $5,000 over five years to exterior improvements to single-family homes and duplexes. The downtown CRA has been amended to allow multiple grants, city officials have announced.
Eligible improvements, which must be visible from the public right-of-way, include costs associated with exterior painting, pressure cleaning and fascia repair; landscaping improvements like those related to new irrigation systems and related enhancements; front porch or deck additions and repairs; new exterior lighting fixtures (new, not older repaired ones); driveway repairs or resealing; new door, awning or windows installation and chain link fence removal.
To see if your property and projects are eligible and to apply for the two Residential Property Improvement Programs, go to kissimmee.gov/VineStreetCRA or kissimmee.gov/DowntownCRA.
The federal grant that will help KPD expand its force by 12 officers; the city’s approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget included an additional four police officers and two sergeants. This federal funding will cover approximately 40% of the $1.87 million project, with the city funding the remaining 60%. The federal funding piece runs through 2030, city officials said.
“Kissimmee is one of the fastest-growing communities in Central Florida, and with that growth comes the responsibility to continuously strengthen our operations and expand our capacity to serve and protect,” City Manager Mike Steigerwald said. “This grant is an investment in public safety, and it’s an investment in our future. It allows us to bring in additional officers who will deepen our community partnerships and help ensure we’re not just keeping up but staying ahead.”
