PLANT CITY, Fla. — Plant City is known for strawberries, but now the community is looking to sweeten its downtown image.
- Plant City leaders working to create a vibrant downtown
- City leaders added financial incentives, eased regulations
- Smaller businesses now allowed to sell alcohol downtown
City leaders have added financial incentives and eased regulations to create a more vibrant downtown Plant City.
"We want this to be the heart of the community," said Plant City Mayor Rick Lott.
Plant City commissioners recently changed the rules to allow smaller businesses to sell alcohol downtown.
The change allowed Brandon Snyder and his fiancé Jerilyn Arunbarber to open up a wine bar called The Roots.
"We have Tampa that’s exploding, Orlando that’s exploding, Lakeland that’s exploding, and here we are," said Snyder. "And so it’s time for us to catch up."
Forty-five thousand dollars in grants have also been made available for certain downtown projects, including updating building facades and building out culinary equipment. Ordinances have also been modified to allow more murals to be created throughout downtown.
"We are trying to remove all the excuses," Mayor Lott said laughing.
Leaders in Plant City want to add more housing downtown to go alongside the new businesses.
Plans are also underway for a park with a playground that children can enjoy.