Your Weekly FRA Update:

July 9, 2026

FRA Webinar: CRA Do’s and Don’ts: now online for FRA members!

About This Webinar: Join redevelopment attorney Clifford Shepard for a discussion on the do’s and don’ts of CRA spending. This webinar explores eligible uses of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds, key statutory requirements, common compliance pitfalls, and important considerations for keeping CRA expenditures aligned with redevelopment goals and Florida law.

Recorded May 29, 2026

Brownfield Basics: Wednesday, July 15, 2026

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. (ET)

Join us for an informative webinar on the fundamentals of brownfield redevelopment and the tools available to help Florida communities transform environmentally impacted properties into productive assets.

Presented by Miles Ballogg, EnSafe's National Brownfields Practice Leader and current FRA Board Member with nearly 30 years of experience, the session will explore how Florida Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) can leverage EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup, Multipurpose, and Revolving Loan Fund Grants, along with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credits, liability protections, and other redevelopment incentives.

The webinar will also highlight funding opportunities, redevelopment strategies, and award-winning brownfields projects from communities across Florida, providing practical insights for CRA board members, staff, consultants, and local government professionals seeking to advance economic development, housing, healthcare, and community revitalization initiatives.

FRA members: contact fra@flcities.com for the link!

Submit Your Nominations – 2026-2027 FRA Board of Directors

Nomination Deadline: JULY 10, 2026


Are you interested in making an impact on your association?

Nominations are open for members who want to step forward to put their leadership and knowledge to task by serving on the Florida Redevelopment Association’s Board of Directors. New officers will be voted on at the Annual Business Meeting in October at the 2026 FRA Annual Conference.

There are six At-Large positions open and two Elected Official positions. Nominations for open positions on the FRA Board must be sponsored by a current member of the Board of Directors. 

FRA Members - submit your "Why Join The FRA" quote by sending a short quote and your headshot to Merrily Bennett at mbennett@flcities.com.

The FRA Academy Elective Course, "Infrastructure I – Above Ground,” will be held on July 17 in Orlando! 

This course provides planners with an overview of above-ground infrastructure issues in Florida and the role of Community Redevelopment Agencies in funding and coordinating these projects.

• Overview of roads, lighting, amenities, and regulatory frameworks
• Role of CRAs in funding and advancing infrastructure improvements
• Project stages, processes, and stakeholder coordination
• Partnerships with state and federal agencies and private developers
• Legal considerations, including procurement and bidding requirements
• Case studies and interactive discussion on best practices and decision-making

FRA Member News

The FRA features member news in our weekly newsletter and on our social media channels - make sure you are following the FRA social media feeds to see CRA member posts; plus you can share news from the FRA's "Redevelopment Works" campaign!

FRA Members - share your stories and successes with the FRA - email us at fra@flcities.com and include a description or press release, and a photo!



New! Fifty Unhoused People Find Permanent Housing Through 407 Connect Program

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



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 is to help unhoused people by providing them with resources and services during the day — such as meals, showers, job assistance and housing navigation — and with shelter at night via the program’s two buses, according to the Christian Service Center’s website.

Since 407 Connect’s launch, the program has enrolled 119 participants and helped 50 people find housing, said Ashley Papagni, one of Orlando’s public information managers, in an email. According to an April 30 press release, these participants have consisted mostly of single adults.

“407 Connect represents a shift from temporary responses to long-term solutions,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in the press release. “By combining innovation with strong partnerships and sustained investment, we are seeing real results that are changing lives and strengthening our community.”

Read more here

New! Oyster Restoration in Palmetto Showing Early Signs of Ecological Recovery

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



The Palmetto Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) put a spotlight 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 structures—but studying what happens next.

“Most people just put their reef balls and they walk away,” said Dr. Ernesto Lasso de la Vega, Principal Investigator for the Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Components on the project. “Now here we’re studying the effect of the reef balls and that is information that will be useful for other projects.”

Read more here

New! Riviera Beach is an All-America City

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



Riviera Beach has won its first All-America City award for its focus on young people and strong neighborhoods.

The city is one of 10 selected Sunday by the National Civic League based on progress in bringing people together to build lasting change.

An overjoyed Riviera Beach delegation took the stage at the 77th annual award competition’s closing ceremony in Denver to celebrate their prize.

“We’re so excited!” Council member KaShamba Miller-Anderson said as she accepted the award. “We have been able to put a national spotlight on all the talent we have in our city,”

They highlighted Riviera Beach’s Youth Council, its Citizens Leadership Academy and the Community Redevelopment Authority’s Neighborhood Reclaim home stabilization program.

Read more here

Fort Myers CRA Unveils New Conceptual Plan for Historic McCollum Hall

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



McCollum Hall is a two-story building on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Cranford Avenue on the eastern side of downtown Fort Myers, just past the railroad tracks on the western edge of the Dunbar Community.

Built in 1938, McCollum Hall was a crown jewel for commerce and entertainment and served as a cultural landmark. Over the decades, the ground floor housed businesses including a men’s clothing store, a barber shop, a coffee shop, and a grocery store. The top floor featured a dance hall that, in its time, featured the likes of Louis Armstrong, B. B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington among many others. McCollum Hall was a stop on what was called the Chitlin’ Circuit during the segregation era. The performance space closed its doors in the early 1970s and for the building has for the most part has sat empty ever since.

The City of Fort Myers designated McCollum Hall as a local historic landmark in 1998 and it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. Over the years there have been a number of stops and starts in efforts and plans to bring it back to life in some form. The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency took over the property in 2008 and repaired the roof and shored up the structure. The building’s facade got a facelift in 2016 with the help of a state historic preservation grant.

Now, the CRA has approved a new conceptual design proposal from Fort Myers architects Parker Mudgett Smith for the restoration and adaptive reuse of McCollum Hall which includes a restaurant, performing space, retail space and a business center…and the CRA has purchased the adjoining property so it will have a larger footprint.

Read more here - and get the link to the 23-minute recording featuring Michele Hylton-Terry, Executive Director of the Fort Myers CRA

Celebrating the Grand Opening of the Spruce

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) joined community leaders, project partners, and residents in celebrating the grand opening of The Spruce, a transformative mixed-use development in Northwood Village. The ribbon-cutting marked a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to expand workforce housing opportunities and support thoughtful redevelopment throughout the city.

Developed through a strong partnership among the private sector, the City of West Palm Beach, the CRA, and Palm Beach County, The Spruce builds contributes to the creation of new workforce housing units in the North end.

As West Palm Beach continues to grow, projects like The Spruce help strengthen neighborhoods, support local businesses, and create opportunities for the teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality employees, first responders, and young professionals who help our community thrive every day. A special thank you to Affiliated Development, Jeff Burns, Nick Rojo, and the entire team who helped bring this vision to life.

Read more here

Architects for New E. Pat Larkins Community Center Introduced at “New Downtown” Community Meeting

CRAs build better communities! #redevelopmentworks



Pompano Beach officials and “New Downtown” master developer Rocapoint Partners unveiled the newly hired architectural team tasked with designing a replacement for the E. Pat Larkins Community Center, at 520 NW 3rd Street.

The announcement came during a “New Downtown Pompano Beach Community Meeting” at the Larkins Center ballroom, sponsored by the city and the private developer. Several hundred residents and business owners gathered to hear updates on the estimated 4-million-square-foot urban core project.

“This is a very long-term project; it’s not going to be built overnight,” said Assistant City Manager Suzette Sibble, noting that public engagement meetings will continue over the next decade.

CRA Director Nguyen Tran reminded attendees that transforming the area has been a 30-year effort. Comparing the timeline to successful redevelopments in nearby Delray Beach, Tran described the visual transformation of the area from a decade ago to today as “night and day.”

Read more here

JOBS

Want to see all of the redevelopment positions available from FRA members across the state of Florida?

Click here for more jobs!

CRA Manager – City of Haines City

📍 Location: Haines City, FL

💼 Position Type: Full-Time

💰 Salary Range: $79,149.41 – $114,632.10 annually

📊 Department: Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

📅 Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

The City of Haines City is seeking a CRA Manager to lead redevelopment initiatives and oversee implementation of community redevelopment plans within the City’s CRA districts.

This position plays a key role in advancing redevelopment projects, economic development strategies, property redevelopment efforts, and long-term community revitalization initiatives.

🔎 Job Summary

Under the direction of City Administration, the CRA Manager is responsible for managing redevelopment programs, coordinating projects and consultants, overseeing CRA operations, and supporting implementation of redevelopment strategies throughout the community.

Read more here

Executive Coordinator – City of Delray Beach

 📍 Location: Delray Beach, FL

💼 Position Type: Full-Time

💰 Salary Range: $50,000 – $78,000

📊 Department: Delray Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

📅 Status: Open Position

The Delray Beach CRA is seeking an Executive Coordinator to provide administrative and project support for CRA operations, Board coordination, records management, communications, marketing, and special events.

This highly organized and detail-oriented position supports the implementation of the Community Redevelopment Plan and assists with a variety of operational, administrative, and community engagement initiatives.

🔎 Job Summary

Reporting directly to the CRA Executive Director, this role provides executive-level administrative support, manages Board coordination activities, assists with communications and marketing efforts, and supports special projects and CRA-sponsored events.

🛠 Key Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and project support to CRA leadership and staff

• Manage calendars, appointments, travel arrangements, and scheduling

• Coordinate records management and retention programs

• Maintain paper and electronic filing systems

• Serve as CRA Board Liaison and coordinate Board meeting materials and agendas

• Attend Board meetings and transcribe meeting minutes

• Coordinate CRA disaster preparedness updates

• Assist with social media management and digital communications

• Support website updates and maintenance

• Assist with marketing collateral, newsletters, press releases, and outreach materials

• Coordinate CRA special events, ribbon cuttings, and community activities

• Manage special projects and provide office administration backup support

• Provide Florida State Notary Public services

Read more here

Updated! Building Official - City of Bradenton Beach

📍 Location: Bradenton Beach, FL

💼 Position Type: Full-Time

💰 Starting Salary: $120,000+ DOQ

📅 Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

The City of Bradenton Beach is seeking an experienced Building Official to lead the City’s Building Department and oversee permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and floodplain compliance activities.

This department head position supervises the City’s Code Enforcement Officer, Permit Clerk, and Permit Technician while ensuring compliance with all applicable building, zoning, land development, FEMA, accessibility, energy, and environmental regulations.

🔎 Job Summary

Under administrative direction, this position performs technical, supervisory, and administrative work related to plans review, inspections, code enforcement, permitting, and regulatory compliance. The Building Official is responsible for administering and enforcing local building and development codes while ensuring construction projects meet all applicable standards and requirements.

Read more here

Building Inspector – City of Brooksville

STARTING PAY: $60,320/yr (commensurate with experience)

JOB SUMMARY: This position involves performing technical inspections of building construction, alterations, and repairs to ensure compliance with established building codes, regulations, and safety standards. The role includes reviewing plans and specifications for construction projects, conducting on-site inspections, and identifying any potential issues or violations. The primary goal is to ensure that all construction activities meet safety, structural integrity, and legal requirements. The inspector will be responsible for issuing permits, providing guidance on code compliance, and collaborating with contractors, architects, and engineers to address any concerns or discrepancies during the construction process.

Read more here

RFPs / RFQs / LOIs

Want to see all of the redevelopment FRPs/RFQs/LOIs from FRA members across the state of Florida?

Click here for more RFPs!

MORE FRA RESOURCES

Thank you for supporting Florida redevelopment! Have questions or news to share? fra@flcities.com