Incentives offered for new businesses to set up shop near U.S. 17-92 flyover

CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Seminole County is so desperate to bring business to U.S. 17-92 that it is paying business owners to set up shop there.

Multiple businesses moved out to make room for the pending Casselberry flyover project, and city leaders are now trying to lure businesses back.

In one nearby shopping complex only two out of 15 storefronts were filled.

"You look down and it's like, OK, why can't we see people walking instead of empty hallways?" said Cheryle Schnack of Gerry's Sandwich Factory.

Things aren't much better along the rest of U.S. 17-92 in Fern Park. There, vacant land for the Casselberry flyover sits empty until the project gets underway in December.

"They keep going right on by. If there were other things along 17-92 or in here, they would probably come in," said Schnack.

To fix that, the county plans to set aside $100,000 for 20 businesses that qualify. The money can be used for rent so they can relocate into empty storefronts along 17-92.

In the end, the county hopes it'll increase property values by reducing commercial vacancies.

"We just have to be patient," said Schnack.

The county plans to select qualified companies for the grant money sometime in the fall.

LINKS: Seminole Co. Redevelopment Area | Grant guidelines

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