LAKE WORTH, FL; August 31, 2015 – The Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County were awarded $165,000 from The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Funds received from this grant are being used to help support our new “Creative Corridor Initiative.” The Initiative is a planning project with the goal of rehabilitating vacant storefronts and buildings into arts-related businesses, attracting and recruiting artists to downtown Lake Worth’s Arts and Design District and engaging the broader community on arts and culture in order to strengthen the economy.
The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County and the CRA will engage a planning consultant to produce a comprehensive arts district plan for Lake Worth. Also included in the Initiative is the development of a marketing strategy to attract and promote area artists and technical assistance for start-ups or businesses seeking to relocate or expand. Joan Oliva,
Executive Director of the CRA stated, “We believe that this program, in addition to the CRA’s small business loan and technical assistance programs, will revitalize both Lake and Lucerne Avenues, create opportunities for small businesses and increase property values.”
Rena Blades, president and CEO of the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County, said, “The Cultural Council is committed to the community of Lake Worth. It’s especially gratifying that, as part of the Council’s mission to serve Palm Beach County’s artists and communities, we are able to create this transformative project right in our own neighborhood of Lake Worth, where our headquarters and public gallery are located.”
The CRA and Cultural Council anticipate that the following goals will be accomplished through the creation of this plan:
- More artists, businesses and visitors will be attracted to the City.
- Vacant and underutilized properties will be occupied and additional jobs will be created.
- The plan will help in the creation of local jobs and contribute to the overall economic vitality of the City.
This three-year initiative will soon be underway. For more information on the Creative Corridor Initiative please visit us at: www.lakeworthcra.org or call (561) 493-2550.
“The Lake Worth CRA is investing in our community to revitalize and rebuild our neighborhoods and commercial corridors. We are dedicated to maintaining the character of the City, responding to the community needs and encouraging sustainable economic growth to improve the quality of life for our residents and the future health of our City.”
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ABOUT THE LAKE WORTH COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: The Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency is governed by a seven (7) member Board of Commissioners which is appointed by the City of Lake Worth Commission. Their role is to direct CRA activities within the Community Redevelopment Area in accordance with the approved Lake Worth Redevelopment Plan. Revenue is generated for CRA projects through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). For more information, visit www.lakeworthcra.org
ABOUT THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY: The Cultural Council is the official support agency for arts and culture for Palm Beach County serving non-profit organizations, individual artists and arts districts. The Council promotes the county’s cultural experiences through an integrated program of advertising, public relations and marketing activities to both visitors and residents. Each year, the Council administers more than $3.6 million in grants, supports arts and cultural education, provides capacity building training, and advocates for funding and arts-friendly policies. Located in the historic Robert M. Montgomery, Jr. building in downtown Lake Worth, the Council mounts a series of group and solo exhibitions featuring Palm Beach County artists and provides other programming.
Connect with the Council at palmbeachculture.com, or (561) 471-2901. The Cultural Council visitor center, gallery and gift shop are located at the Cultural Council headquarters, in an iconic Art Moderne former movie theater at 601 Lake Avenue in Lake Worth. Gallery, visitor center and gift shop hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is one of Florida’s largest community foundations. The nonprofit organization has provided over $110 million in grants and scholarships over its 43-year history. At its core, the Community Foundation is an organization created with gifts from generous people committed to local causes. For donors, the Foundation serves as a philanthropic advisor. For the community, the Foundation serves as a grant maker and a civic leader. Through the support of its donors and fund holders, the Foundation has been able to address some of the community’s most pressing needs, including hunger, housing and education.