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August 29, 2024

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FRA Member News

New! Historic City Hall Restoration Sparks Revival in Opa-locka

The restoration of Opa-locka's Company Administration Building, once used as a city hall, is nearing its completion.

The building, whose Arabian-style minarets and pink domes symbolize Opa-locka, is expected to be finished by mid-fall. For the first time since 1940, when the city took ownership from the Opa-Locka company, the historic site will operate as a cultural and community center, representing the city's heartbeat as it was always intended to.

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New! Lake Wales Breaks Ground on Northwest Neighborhood Sidewalk and Street Tree Project

Lake Wales City officials and residents gathered Friday morning at the intersection of Florida Avenue and F Street in the Northwest Neighborhood to celebrate the upcoming sidewalk and street-tree planting project with a groundbreaking ceremony.

The effort is expected to beautify the long-neglected area, coupling with the ongoing Community Redevelopment Agency housing rehabilitation and affordable home construction programs.

The groundbreaking followed only hours after a Thursday evening public meeting to discuss the plans, which will cause some disruption for area residents, including moving cars to allow access for heavy equipment and the relocation of mailboxes and other facilities in certain locations.

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New! City of High Springs Announces Call for Projects for Residential Grant Program

The High Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Façade Improvement Grant Matching Program is now open to residential homeowners in the district.

After seeing overwhelming success with the CRA’s Business Façade Grant Program, we are proud to announce the addition of a residential grant program. The program is designed to help homeowners revitalize their houses. In an era of rising construction costs, the façade grant is here to give our neighbors a helping hand.

The grant program provides 50/50 reimbursement for eligible improvements up to $5,000 to encourage and advance revitalization efforts. The CRA Board will review applications and award grants.

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From our Members: City of Winter Garden

Tucker Ranch Holistic Health, Wellness, Teaching Farm and Family Activity Center Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony of a 25.6-acre Tucker Ranch Holistic Health, Wellness, Teaching Farm and Family Activity Center was held on August 23, 2024.

The $31 million addition to Tucker Ranch Park and Nature Preserve will include a trail system with exercise nodes, outdoor fitness equipment, retreat center, greenhouse, outdoor teaching kitchen, and edible and teaching gardens. Estimated completion is fall 2026. Located at 100 Avalon Road, the park remains open daily from 8:00 am to dusk during the construction. Admission is free.

Plant City CRA Purpose

The purpose of Florida’s Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 is to remove slum and blight from municipalities. In accordance with this act, the City Commission of Plant City established a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in 1981. The 1969 act allows communities to increase property taxes to finance improvements in a specified area. Plant City put together a Community Redevelopment Plan to address the obvious blight within a large portion of the City—roughly from Alexander Street to Park Road and from the library to the bottom of Midtown.

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Not Your Mom's CRA

The Lake Placid Community Redevelopment Agency that meets Wednesday evening will be different from past CRAs.

The Lake Placid Town Council in June agreed to add two new members to the CRA board, which before that vote consisted of four council members and Mayor John Holbrook. The two new members – Frank Hartzell, owner of Hartzell’s Grocery Market, and Ken LeBlanc, owner of X-Urban Construction that developed Journal Plaza – will bring a business voice to the CRA deliberations.

The CRA’s present mission, according to the Lake Placid town website, is to eliminate and prevent conditions of slum and blight by funding eligible infrastructure projects such as new sidewalks and sidewalk improvements; roadwork including repaving and new roads; traffic calming; stormwater improvements; street lighting and other street improvement.

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Newberry CRA Explores Mural Funding

During the recent Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting, Newberry Senior Planner Uma Sarmistha unveiled a proposal for a mural program aimed at enhancing the downtown Newberry area. Sarmistha’s presentation included slides showcasing several buildings that would serve as ideal canvases for murals, along with artist renderings that provided examples of potential artwork.

Board members unanimously supported Sarmistha’s proposal and agreed to apply for a one-to-one $5,000 Art Tag Program grant. They also approved the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) to attract artists interested in contributing their artwork for the Board’s consideration.

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Jobs

New! Executive Director – Boynton Beach CRA

TITLE: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

REPORTS TO: BBCRA BOARD

SALARY RANGE DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS: $142,000 – $210,000

GENERAL DUTIES:

The position manages the day-to-day operations, of the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA). The Executive Director is a highly responsible position that oversees a wide variety of redevelopment and economic development activities that include fiscal operations, policy making, capital project administration, BBCRA program management, redevelopment plan implementation, property acquisition, business incentives, new business development, business attraction and retention, special business promotion activities as well as the management and maintenance of BBCRA-owned properties.

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New! City of Edgewater: Economic/Redevelopment Coordinator

Position Title: Economic/Redevelopment Coordinator

Closing Date: Open until filled

Annual Salary Range:

$48,505.60 – $80,995.20 (110)

General Summary:

The Economic Development/Redevelopment Coordinator is a self-motivated, innovative leader with excellent communication and presentation skills who is willing to occupy a highly visible position in the community, work closely with businesses, community, and developmental interests while maintaining excellent relations with City Council and other members of the municipal team. The Coordinator has managerial competence, maturity of judgment and strong personal leadership as well as the ability to effectively communicate concisely, both orally and written. Must have the ability to present and interact with large general public and private meeting groups.

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Administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity

Location: Tampa, Florida

Salary: $145,496.00 – $248,913.60

Filing deadline: September 2, 2024

The City of Tampa is seeking an Administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity. This senior leadership position provides a platform to influence major initiatives in economic development, community planning, housing, and real estate, directly impacting the quality of life for Tampa’s diverse population. The ideal candidate for the Administrator for Development and Economic Opportunity will be a seasoned professional with extensive experience in economic development, community planning, or real estate management, particularly within the Tampa Bay area or the southeastern United States.

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Redevelopment Specialist – City of Miami Beach

Salary: $2,579.73 – $4,304.15 Biweekly

Location : Miami Beach, FL

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 02270

Department: Economic Development

Opening Date: 08/15/2024

Closing Date: 8/29/2024 5:00 PM Eastern

The City of Miami Beach’s Economic Development Department (EDD) is dedicated to fostering a robust economy that stimulates balanced growth by connecting business, community, people and jobs through business assistance and resources, corridor development and redevelopment, real estate, and creating a diverse economy for this dynamic and resilient community. The Redevelopment Specialist performs a variety of routine, specialized, and complex administrative work under the direction of the Director and/or Assistant Director.

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Housing and Development Program Manager

City of Pensacola Employment

Department: CRA

Pay Range: $28.28-$46.67 hourly dependent on knowledge and experience

This is an administrative professional position that assists with housing and economic development and community development tasks and projects as assigned, such as project management, marketing of community assets, fostering strategic partnerships, and promotion of the City of Pensacola as a desirable place for development.

This class is responsible for coordinating, promoting, implementing and managing CRA programs, projects and initiatives implemented pursuant to the City’s adopted community redevelopment plans, authorized under Florida Statute, Chapter 163, Part III.



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CRA & Economic Development Manager – City of Newberry

This is a hybrid-eligible position; remote work of up to 50% is acceptable.

The CRA & Economic Development Manager coordinates, directs, and implements programs and projects that support the City of Newberry’s economic growth and redevelopment objectives. This strategic role involves robust project management, business recruitment and retention, and community engagement to foster economic development and revitalization, particularly within the City’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The successful candidate will work under the direction of the Assistant City Manager and play a pivotal role in enhancing the City’s economic landscape.



Job closes on 9/13/2024

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City of Dania Beach CRA Economic Development Manager

SALARY: $31.82 – $49.32 Hourly

$66,181.32 – $102,580.95 Annually

Position Summary

We seek an Economic Development Manager to join our Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Under the direction of the CRA Executive Director, the ideal candidate will be responsible for the development and execution of business attraction/retention strategies and marketing of the City/CRA as a desirable business destination.



Job closes on 8/31/2024

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Program/Project Coordinator, Senior (Home Ownership and Repair) – Broward County

Salary: $73,378.12 – $117,111.32 Annually

Closing Date: 8/23/2024 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners is seeking qualified candidates for Program/Project Coordinator, Senior (Home Ownership and Repair) to support the Housing Finance Divison.

This position is responsible for the day-to-day administration, management, compliance, and direct oversight of various rehabilitation programs, and may include other types of housing assistance programs that have operational responsibility of a major scope, and/or a large-size budget.

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RFPs / RFQs / LOIs

Opportunity for Redevelopment as Part of Public/Private Partnership

The City of St. Cloud (CITY) and the St. Cloud Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) are inviting proposals from qualified and experienced respondents for the purchase/lease and development of a City-owned property as part of a Public & Private Partnership (P3). The parcel, referred to as the “Downtown Site 1”, is prominently located in the downtown area of the City of St. Cloud.

The purpose of the project is to promote revitalization and to serve as a catalyst to stimulate additional development in the City’s downtown area. For more information, click below:

Due date: 10/10/2024

Read more here

Defuniak Springs CRA RFP: Historic District Design Standards

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGN STANDARDS FOR

THE DEFUNIAK SPRINGS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

RFP 24-02-CRA

It is the intent of the DeFuniak Springs Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the CRA Board (referenced herein as “The Board”) to select a professional company, consultant team(s) and/or an individual to develop Design Standards as they relate to the three historic districts within the DeFuniak Springs CRA.



Time and Due Date: September 6th, 2024, no later than 4:00 pm.

Read more here

MORE FRA RESOURCES

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