Good News From Florida’s CRAs

Worth Avenue Streetscape in Palm Beach

Palmetto housing rehab a blessing for homeowner   Living in the little stucco house on 11th Street West had become an ordeal for Betty Hammond. The air-conditioning hadn’t worked in two years. The kitchen sink was separated from the wall. The roof leaked. “I was running out of buckets and pots when it rained,” the…

Delray CRA shifts away from traditional role to help businesses thrive The Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is shifting its focus from its old model — improving infrastructure — to attracting new businesses and keeping established businesses alive during a sluggish economy. And it’s catching on. The Boynton Beach CRA is offering similar programs and…

The CRA, FRA and TCRPC sponsored a Florida’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program Event in West Palm Beach

Using Twitter to Encourage Engagement in Urban History You’ve all seen them, the plaques with years on them displayed around your city. They commemorate people, places or events that are import to the history of the city. Maybe you even stop to read them. Most likely you take them for granted and walk right by.…

Florida’s Gadsden County, “Big Bend” Region Win Southeast’s Largest Solar Farm Project National Solar Power announced Monday the company would build the Southeast’s largest solar farm in Gadsden County, Florida- generating hundreds of new jobs and pouring #1.5 billion in economic investment into the region. “Gadsden County was chosen for this significant project for many…

3D Projection Mapping and its Impact on Media & Architecture in Contemporary and Future Urban Spaces The 3D projection mapping “process for creating tailor-made projections for specific objects” allows the focus of a video image to be specifically adapted in line with the various surface characteristics of a façade. In this process, the diverse material…

Only 6 weeks remain before the most highly anticipated energy event in Florida! The 2011 Florida Energy Summit, October 26-28, in Orlando, Florida, will serve as a launching point for future energy policy in the state of Florida. Previously known as “Farm to Fuel” the 2011 Florida Energy Summit will reflect the Department of Agriculture…

Bartow CRA Set to Hire New Executive Director The Community Redevelopment Agency board in Bartow has agreed to offer its executive director’s job to Patrick Brett, the interim director of the agency since June. Board Chairwoman Joanne Stidham said the board was impressed with his credentials and knowledge of the area. “He also has worked…

Incentives Lure Time Warner to Create 500 Jobs in New Tampa-area Center Time Warner has pledged to create 500 jobs in Hillsborough County over the next five years, promising average salaries of $57,200. The company’s new shared resource center should open in late 2012, starting with about 100 employees mostly in human resources and information…

EMPOWER St. Lucie Solar and Energy Loan Fund St. Lucie County is empowering its residents and businesses to save money and reduce energy consumption through the Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF), a conservation initiative that has drawn national and international attention for its innovative approach to fostering a Green Economy. Goals of this initiative…

Florida League of Cities Research and Resources Library This online tool is home to a variety of qualitative and quantitative resources that make obtaining information on city governments quick and easy. Check out the results of the 2011 CityStats Survey, city profiles, municipal resources, best practices, and research reports on local government issues. CLICK HERE…

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…