The Florida Economic Consortium on Violence and Crime (FEC) hosted a lunch forum to discuss the role of community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) and how they can be leveraged to address blighted areas and slums in Apopka.
Attended by city and county officials and community members, the lunch forum took place at the Fran Carlton Recreation Center on North Forest Avenue in Apopka on Tuesday, February 28.
Participants gave background information on CRAs as they relate to Florida statutes and local communities, followed by a question and answer session and a panel discussion.
The FEC focuses on addressing the issues of violence and crime through the urban renewal of economic development.
Two local communities with CRAs had elected officials attending the forum: Apopka and Eatonville. Whereas Apopka’s designated community redevelopment area is only a section that spreads across U.S. Highway 441, Eatonville is a rarity in Florida because the entire town is designated.
“I think what we have here is an opportunity to look at … thinking how we can make the economics work better for these areas that we know have needs,” said Orange County Commissioner Bryan Nelson, who represents Apopka and Eatonville.
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