Issue Statement:
The City of Oakland Park currently administers the Qualified Census Tract (QCT) Business Incentive Program focused on stimulating investment, business retention, and job creation within the City’s HUD designated QCTs, and certain adjacent areas. In 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued updated QCT boundaries, resulting in the designation of a new tract—QCT 501—within the city's jurisdiction, effective January 1, 2026 (see attached QCT Maps document).  To align with the City’s economic development goals and ensure that businesses within the QCT 501 area and any future qualified census tracts have equitable access to incentive opportunities, staff proposes expanding the current QCTBIP to all QTCs within the City.

Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Commission adopt a resolution approving the expansion of the City’s Qualified Census Tract Business Incentive Program to include the newly designated QCT 501 and any future HUD-designated census tracts in Oakland Park as eligible areas for participation.

Background

In January 2024, the City Commission approved the adoption of the Qualified Census Tract Business Incentive Program (QCTBIP) to address blighted conditions affecting Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) and surrounding commercial areas. The program provides matching grants for eligible exterior aesthetic improvements to commercial properties located within QCT 508 (west of I-95), as well as adjacent areas along the north side of Oakland Park Boulevard - between I-95 and NW 31st Avenue, and the west side of Andrews Avenue between Oakland Park Boulevard and NW 40th Street. This area borders Census Tract 507.02 – considered a QCT at the time, and the Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), as depicted in the attached map (see attached QCT Maps document).

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released updated maps identifying Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs) across the country. A QCT is defined by HUD as a census tract in which at least 50% of households have incomes below 60% of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI), or where the tract’s average household income is below 60% of the AMGI. 

The updated HUD maps took effect on January 1, 2026, and reflected the following updates: 

• Removal of QCT designation from Census Tract 507.02 (within the CRA), reflecting improving economic indicators in the area resulting from the City’s targeted investment; 
• Retained QCT designation for Census Tract 508 (west of I-95); and
• Addition of Census Tract 501, located in the North Andrews Gardens area near Northeast High School, as a new QCT within Oakland Park.
  
  

The proposed program expansion would allow commercial, for-profit businesses operating within the City’s designated Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs), existing eligible adjacent areas near QCT 508, and portions of Andrews Avenue adjacent to the CRA—an area that continues to be in need of investment— collectively referred to as QCTBIP target areas, to apply for financial support for qualifying exterior improvements under the same terms and conditions as the existing program.

If approved, a revised map reflecting the inclusion of QCT 501, will be incorporated into the program materials to guide future applicants and administrative review.

There is no immediate financial impact associated with this action. The QCTBIP operates on a reimbursement basis and is contingent upon existing budgeted funds. Expansion of the program to a new QCT area does not commit additional funding but may increase the volume of applications over time.

Future impacts will be addressed during annual budget development based on program demand and available economic development funding.