Small businesses embody the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and individual initiative that made this country prosperous. Today, small businesses represent the survivors of some of the most challenging economic times in decades and are the innovative leaders of continuing progress. However, as Florida recovers, the small business community is disproportionately struggling to obtain the necessary…
Vacancies down as businesses flock to Fifth Avenue South By KRISTINE GILL Posted December 13, 2012 at 5:25 a.m. Neapolitan Dwight Nadeau wanted to be close to the action when he launched his first business. So he rented a space on Eighth Street South, between the south parking garage and Fifth Avenue South. He opened…
Sebring CRA picks Hinote as director By Robin Hinote Published: December 12, 2012 Updated: December 12, 2012 – 2:13 PM SEBRING — Robin Hinote gets to remove a word from her title. Hinote, who was selected as the acting executive director after Pete Pollard retired in February, was given the permanent job on Monday. “The…
City to ‘re-set’ CRA to spur growth By Angela Daughtry, News-Leader City commissioners, after listening to recommendations from the city’s CRA Advisory Board, conceded Tuesday that the base year of the special taxing district should be reset. They also agreed repairs should be made to the railroad crossings at Centre and Ash streets to improve…
CRA working on Millville grocery By ZACK McDONALD / The News Herald December 8, 2012 PANAMA CITY — Residents of Millville can expect a new community grocery — provided the owner can find “willing bankers,” according to Community Redevelopment Agency officials. “We’re trying to get it (Millville) to be an attractive place for investment again,”…
Mayor embraces downtown improvement report Hayward says it would be premature to decide DIB’s fate Written by Nate Monroe Dec 7, 2012 In remarks at a Friday news conference that mirrored the pro-growth theme he has trumpeted since his election two years ago, Mayor Ashton Hayward embraced a new report on policy proposals and recommendations…
‘Entertainment district’ would change Sarasota noise ordinance By Jessie Van Berkel Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, December 7, 2012 at 7:19 p.m. SARASOTA – For the first time in a decade, downtown condo dwellers and the musicians and business owners who work below them have banded together to change…
Groundbreaking for ‘Pink Palace’ re-do in downtown Bradenton set for Jan. 17 By NICK WILLIAMS Published: December 12, 2012 BRADENTON — A groundbreaking ceremony for the $15 million renovation of “The Pink Palace” in Bradenton is slated for 4 p.m. Jan. 17. The 1920s-era downtown hotel, formerly known as Manatee River Hotel, 309 10th St.…
Hollywood paves way for downtown office building By Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, December 8, 2012 HOLLYWOOD — Eager to see construction cranes back downtown, Hollywood officials said yes to a developer’s long-running plans for a $10 million mid-rise office building that would sit just west of Young Circle. “I absolutely don’t want to stop any…
Florida Municipal Loan Council Issues Capital Access Program Loan to Harbour Waterway Special District The Harbour Waterway Special District, located in Duval County, recently closed on a bank loan financed by BB&T as part of the Florida Municipal Loan Council’s (FMLC) Capital Access Program (CAP), which helps municipal issuers obtain debt financing. The district is…
West Palm Beach starts taking applications for artist colony today WEST PALM BEACH —The city will launch its Lot 23 artists colony project at 5:30 p.m. today prior to the monthly Art and Wine Promenade in Northwood Village. Under the project, West Palm Beach will provide housing to at least eight artists at discounted rents…
$400 rents aimed at attracting artists West Palm Beach creating creative enclave WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —At what used to be public housing, the city of West Palm Beach is building the area’s first artist enclave. Grace Joyce, West Palm Beach’s redevelopment administrator, toured the two-bedroom apartments with pride Friday. She said an artists’ association…
It’s one of the trendiest neighborhood’s in West Palm Beach: Northwood Village. Tonight one of those areas is coming to life, CBS 12’s Karl Man shows us how a melting pot of artists will soon be giving back to the community. For the full video news story click here.
New artist colony to open in West Palm Beach WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The City of West Palm Beach has turned to local artists to help turn around a neighborhood long at the center of urban blight. The Community Redevelopment Association said it expected to have eight apartments in the Pleasant City neighborhood renovated…
CRA board denies software developers request to rent Magnuson House ‘No’ vote means no tax revenue in building worth a fraction of what CRA paid BOYNTON BEACH —The historic Magnuson house, which the Community Redevelopment Agency paid $850,000 for in 2007, remains uninhabited and a reminder of one of the city’s bigger financial blunders. Despite…
Editorial: Working on our first impression A proposed arch over Interstate 75 where the new 42nd Street flyover crosses and would welcome travelers to Ocala has drawn mixed reviews since the idea was first unveiled last week at a City Council workshop meeting. Some citizens and council members were undoubtedly taken back by the estimated…
County Commissioners Vote to Designate Chemical Plant Site a Brownfield Area BARTOW | County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve designating as a brownfield area the KC Industries property near Mulberry. The 200-acre site on Prairie Mine Road has been used as a chemical plant since 1957. The contamination is the result of practices that…
West Palm weighs 3 downtown hotel plans WEST PALM BEACH — To encourage tourism and a thriving downtown, city officials are preparing to sell the old city hall site, with its prime location near the waterfront, for a hotel. Some want to maximize the space with a tall building that will incorporate a hotel, apartment…
New Port Richey approves demolition ordinance to combat blight NEW PORT RICHEY Demolition ordinance approved The city now has a demolition ordinance on the books to combat blight. The City Council unanimously passed the measure Tuesday evening that allows building officials to inspect abandoned properties, and if the structures threaten the public’s health or welfare…
‘Incubating Ideas’ Seven years ago while they were still in their 20s, Chad Kittrell, a bank executive at the time, and J.T. Burnette, an entrepreneur, founded private equity firm Hunter & Harp in Tallahassee. Since that time, the two have launched a half-dozen Tallahassee businesses, invested $30 million in completed projects, put another $16 million…
DeLand leaders OK downtown residential, business project DELAND — City Commissioners approved a redevelopment project Monday night that could potentially bring dozens of new residents and businesses downtown. The City Commission voted 4-1 to allow the Daytona Beach-based White Challis Redevelopment Company to move forward with the project at Woodland Boulevard and Church Street by…