2011 ICSC Florida Retail Report The retail market in Florida continues an uphill battle to recovery. The state continues to lag slightly behind the rest of the nation, due in large part to the severity of the housing and unemployment struggles. The progress has been slow and intermittent. While antecdotal evidence from many industry experts…
State of Florida Job Creation Plan During its 2011 session, the Florida Legislature called upon state economic leaders to re-evaluate long-standing economic development programs and structures, and formulate new strategies to strengthen job creation efforts. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity was created to streamline community, workforce, and economic development functions and promote economic opportunities…
Temple Terrace is one of the first Florida cities to use the “cutting-edge” technology for smartphone users. Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce President Phil Lentsch was at City Hall on Wednesday afternoon when Temple Terrace installed its first Quick Response (QR) code sign. He said QR codes can provide interactivity for smartphone users, making them an effective marketing…
City of Orlando publishes digital resources for redevelopment Orlando – one of the world’s fastest-growing cities – is known as the center of a dynamic metropolitan area of more than two million people and is a hub for digital media and bio medicine. Orlando has the 13th-busiest airport in the U.S. with flight connections all…
Viva Florida: Florida’s 500th anniversary We are now less than 500 days to Florida’s 500th anniversary. In case you missed it, Secretary of State Kurt Browning joined Governor Rick Scott, Ambassador Cristina Barrios, Consul General to Spain, and several Spanish business leaders last week in Miami to begin the official Viva Florida 500 countdown. Here…
University of South Florida and National Endowment for the Arts Sponsor Intl Urban Design Competition TAMPA welcomes entrants to envision a new interface between the city of Tampa, Florida and the Hillsborough River. Utilizing Landscape Urbanism as a lens, Tampa seeks to refocus the Hillsborough as a SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, and ECOLOGIC spine for Tampa. Currently,…
Brevard leaders must get it right with redevelopment tax districts City and county leaders have a chance to get it right with the new redevelopment agencies they created to spur business growth in North Brevard and West Melbourne. Taxpayers have demanded it. We’ll be watching to make sure they do so. Advisory boards that will…
2011 FRA Annual Conference [Free for Students] Where can you attend a three day conference chock full of the latest and valuable information on Florida Redevelopment for FREE? Where can you meet the people now involved in Florida Redevelopment? The Florida Redevelopment Association offers free conference attendance for any full-time university students (not including food…
Florida Chamber Foundation – 50 Florida Facts 1. Florida’s total economic activity in 2010 measured by gross domestic product ranks 4th in the United States at $747 billion. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis 2. In 2010, Florida ranked 6th best in the nation on the Small Business Survival Index, which measures major government related costs…
Florida SRTS (Safe Routes To School) Update We are now five years into Florida’s SRTS program. Since the beginning of the program, 198 projects totaling $64,150,653 have been selected for funding and put into our Work Program! Some of these projects have been completed, some are being worked on now, and some are scheduled to…
Complete the form below to request your invitation to the FRA Member Network website. Once you sign up, you will receive a user name and password via email. [contact-form 2 “FRA Member-only invitation”]
Are you connected with myFRA? The new members-only portion of the FRA website is a great resource for our members. MyFRA is a dedicated space for FRA members to connect, collaborate and share information to strengthen redevelopment efforts throughout Florida. On MyFRA members can: Network with other members Submit and answer member queries Collaborate using…
BRADENTON — The most visible efforts of the Central Community Redevelopment Agency are about quality of life: smoother roads, less flooding, a new park with facilities galore, and a colorful housing development. But Sherod Halliburton, executive director of the agency that serves south Bradenton, says providing the area better amenities is actually part of a…
DCA posts new links on Community Planning Act Chapter 2011-139, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 7207ER) Community Planning Act Summaries: Frequently Asked Questions about the Community Planning Act Rule 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, Passages Included in the Community Planning Act (by Florida Statutes Section and Bill Line Number) Sector Plans Rural Land Stewardship Areas Reorganization of…
Ready, Here Come the Boomers by Chelsea Weinberg on June 13, 2011 This year, the first of the Baby Boomers turn 65. But this milestone birthday may not be so eagerly celebrated, as our nation realizes the drastic impact this huge generation will have on our communities. Six years ago, the first edition of “The Maturing of…
Immokalee CRA to be represented at White House conference Obama Administration officials will hear from Immokalee July 15th during a gathering of community leaders from around the nation. Steve Hart, who coordinates public relations and marketing for the Immokalee Community Redevelopment District, has been invited to participate in the Community Leaders Briefing Series to talk…
Buzz among relocating business grows for Ybor’s edgy style Most of us know this brick-built, cigar-laden haven of greater Tampa as an atmospheric bar-and-restaurant Latin quarter ready to host Guavaween and other trendy distractions. But Ybor City is also catching more buzz as a mecca for a surprisingly diverse range of businesses. In recent…
2011 FRA Annual Conference Event Dates: October 19-21 Event Location: Hilton Orlando FRA 2011 Annual Conference Registration and Hotel Information We will not have online conference registration this year, we apologize. So please download the event registration form for each attendee and fax to Melanie Howe at 850-222-3806. The Conference Hotel is the Hilton…
Downtown Tampa needs activity, high-density growth, audacious vision, mayors say Empty storefronts. Working-class neighborhoods bulldozed by urban renewal. Big rats running around on Ashley Drive. Those were some of the old memories of downtown Tampa conjured up Tuesday by four past and present mayors of the city. But after 25 years of work, there’s a…
Saving downtown from dying, through downtown living June 12, 2011 AN OPEN LETTER TO CHIPLEY CITY LEADERS Submitted by Prince Eon Menckeberg The problem for most two-story office buildings in any historic district lies in their functional obsolescence and problematic egress and ingress to the second floors. Most second story office spaces have a problem…
CRA Business Resource Center is open for business in a newly renovated store front in Old Pompano Posted by Ben Garrison on June 10, 2011 at 2:00 PM By Phyllis J. Neuberger Pelican staff Let’s begin with a fast explanation of what the CRA is. It’s an acronym for Community Redevelopment Agency which is funded…