Flagler Beach government named the Compass Hotel by Margaritaville as the first recipient of a monthly beauty contest for its downtown district, an initiative cooked up by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board to pat local businesses and residents on the back for keeping up appearances. The hotel, whose owner, Manoj Bhoola, sits on…
Lakeland’s Midtown could see major changes under a new plan from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). For Denise Gilmore, Midtown isn’t just where she owns a business — it’s home. “My grandmother and my grandfather had this property, and I inherited it from them, and I wanted to bring something back to the neighborhood where…
Haines City Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Manager/Consultant Alex Abraham has a doctorate in biomedical engineering. But these days, he’s focused on restoring the health of his city, rejuvenating the properties within his community. The son of entrepreneurs, Abraham also does commercial development, property management and migrant labor transportation. But it’s his role as a corporate…
✨ FRA Newsletter Highlights | July 16, 2026🎉 Redevelopment Week is Coming! 🗓 September 14–18, 2026Join CRAs across Florida in celebrating Redevelopment Week! The FRA has launched a toolkit with ready-to-use resources to help agencies participate in this statewide campaign showcasing the projects, partnerships, and investments transforming Florida’s communities. 📅 Kickoff Webinar: July 31 at…
Between two grants and matching funds, the Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency is looking to have more than $1.8 million for the construction of a motorsports museum in downtown Sebring. CRA staff is working to submit a grant application for Florida’s Cultural Division of Arts and Culture Cultural Facilities Grant Program requesting $500,000 for the construction…
Developers are moving ahead with plans for 175 workforce apartments and a community center after they won a nearly $3 million concession last week from Riviera Beach. The city’s Housing Authority is developing the $75 million Marina Annex Apartments with private partners three blocks west of Riviera Beach’s Marina Village, an area that is attracting…
According to FWB officials, the west side of the park, including the boat launch, is expected to be closed starting Monday, August 3, for construction. The work will include a new 832-square-foot restroom building, new parking for vehicles and boat trailers, a redesigned boat launch area, new sidewalks, and stormwater improvements. The $3.1 million project…
Mobile vendors could soon sell their wares along the 400 and 500 blocks of Cleveland Street under a proposed exception to the city’s vending rules, part of a broader effort to bring new life to the downtown corridor. The change is tied to the Cleveland Street Activation Initiative, a $500,000 program led by the Downtown…
As work on the West Riverwalk extension continues to ramp up, city of Tampa officials are giving a closer look into the complex nature of the construction. During a news conference taking place Tuesday, engineers discussed how crews are building the support structures for the project’s overwater sections. According to city officials, new pedestrian bridges are a…
✨ FRA Newsletter Highlights | July 9, 2026 🎥 FRA Webinar Now Available CRA Do’s and Don’ts Missed the live webinar? FRA members can now watch redevelopment attorney Clifford Shepard’s presentation on eligible CRA expenditures, TIF funding, statutory requirements, common compliance pitfalls, and best practices for keeping CRA spending aligned with Florida law. 🌿 Brownfield…
The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) put a spotlight Wednesday on its oyster restoration project along the Manatee River, a multi-month effort researchers say is already helping scientists measure how habitat work can improve water quality. Out on the water, investigators described the site as a real-life “living laboratory,” where they’re not only placing restoration…
A City of Orlando program established in August 2025 has been helping homeless people find permanent housing — not through traditional brick-and-mortar shelters, but through buses. The program, called 407 Connect, is a partnership project involving the city, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Christian Service Center for the Homeless. The aim of 407 Connect…