Author Archives: FRAstaff

EDA Partners with National Governors Association to Accelerate Economic and Job Growth

EDA Partners with National Governors Association to Accelerate Economic and Job Growth The mission of the Economic Development Administration<http://eda.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=e01f5dccdcdbbf9c1b38379f5&id=496873826d&e=30b30e2d95> (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. The agency has a competitive grant process and has established the…

Redevelopment Brings Benefits, Questions

The Volusia County Council seems likely to cast a weary and skeptical eye on any further request for Community Redevelopment Areas, or CRAs. A CRA takes new property-tax revenue form a blighted area and pours it into improvements. That diverts property-tax revenue for Volsia County government and other taxing districts, causing controversy through the years.…

Bonita council set to approve incentives to lure small businesses

BONITA SPRINGS — From technology and life science to ecotourism and attractions, Bonita Springs is proposing a program to attract new, small businesses to the community. The city is welcoming new businesses for both qualified target industries and all types of business. Bonita Springs Mayor Ben Nelson said the city wants to have a diverse…

Florida Rural Economic Development Study

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) engaged Boyette Strategic Advisors (BSA) to develop an Economic Development Strategic Plan for Rural Florida, which includes the following regions: Florida’s Heartland Regional Economic Development Initiative (FHREDI), North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP) and Opportunity Florida. Three counties, Flagler, Nassau, and Walton, are also considered part of Rural Florida. Rural Florida…

Top 20 reasons to become a member of Florida Redevelopment Association

The Florida Redevelopment Association brings together professionals from around the state who are involved in preserving and improving Florida’s communities. Founded in 1974 to promote redevelopment and growth of downtowns, the original base was Businesses and Downtown Development Authorities. The focus was later broadened to encompass Community Redevelopment Agencies and Main Street Programs. Today, the FRA also includes consultants, vendors, non-profit organizations, developers and other redevelopment entities.…

Sociable City Leadership Summit 2013

Throughout North America, cities struggle to manage active nightlife. Increased crime, fights, noise, litter, and DUI are among the common challenges. Resources and budgets are limited to address these issues. Yet practical, cost‐effective solutions do exist. The RHI State Summit series showcases the best strategies to plan, manage and police nightlife. Learn how your city…

Bartow Looks for New CRA Director

BARTOW | Six months after reorganizing the Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, the city is still searching for a permanent executive director. City Manager George Long, who now supervises the agency’s director, said he’s expanding his search, hoping to elicit more applicants. “We have a few applications — 12,” he said, “but I want to do…

Ex-developer accused of ‘bait and switch’ for contract

The man who helped sell Pensacola residents on his grand vision of an elaborate waterfront park faced a barrage of questions during the third day of a sprawling and complex federal trial.For much of Friday, Scott Davison parried with the park board’s attorney over whether he perpetrated an elaborate “bait and switch” scheme to win…

Construction starts on Key West style NSB development

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — The look and vibe will be Key West, complete with lush palm trees and a tiki bar. The location will be about seven hours and 400 miles north, along the North Causeway in New Smyrna Beach. Construction recently started on a roughly 4-acre, multimillion dollar project known as New Smyrna Harbor…

Tampa tackles blight in Sulphur Springs

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn did right by indulging in some drama this week with his cleanup plan for Sulphur Springs. The central Tampa neighborhood has come to symbolize urban blight, and having the mayor crash a piece of heavy equipment through an abandoned home said as much about the need to transform the area as…

New development planned for Kingsley Avenue

ORANGE PARK – County commissioners have approved a local company’s plans to redevelop a seven-acre site along Kingsley Avenue, and the project could set the tone for future construction up and down the busy thoroughfare that connects unincorporated Clay County with the town of Orange Park. Initial plans call for Kings Tree apartments and the…

Tarpon Police Hit Streets to Help Homeless

Almost 200 people have been helped off the streets of Tarpon Springs in the past three years thanks to the help of a patrol officer, a mental health caseworker and other resources around town. The Tarpon Springs Police Department expanded Officer Jose Yourgules’ role in 2010. His added duties included the title of Homeless Outreach Officer. “Yourgules…