Historical Marker Dedication

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency Cordially Invites the public to the dedication and unveiling of the historical marker to commemorate the Lyles-Bryant Colored School (circa 1922) and the last Lincoln High School prior to the merger with Memorial High School in Palmetto, Florida in 1949.

When: Monday, December 18, 2006 at 10:00 AM

Where: The Corner of 6th Street Court East and 11th Avenue East in Bradenton, Florida

Please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 with any questions.

Martin Luther King Avenue Streetscape Dedication

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency held a dedication ceremony for the Martin Luther King Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project on Monday, December 4th, 2006 at 10:00 AM. Community members, elected officials, and different individuals who had been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition were invited, and were in attendance. The ceremony took place at the intersection of 3rd Street East and Martin Luther King Avenue East.

Please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 for more information on the agency's projects and programs.

CCRA Small Business Forum - November 30, 2006

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency's Central Economic Development Center is sponsoring a Small Business Forum on November 30, 2006.

The Small Business Forum will provide your organization with small business information to assist your clientele.

Presentations will be by:

- The Internal Revenue Service (on Taxpayer Education for Service Providers to the Small Business Community)
- Gulfcoast Business Finance (on New Market Tax Credits)

When: Thursday, November 30, 2006 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Where: 2002 9th Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34208

Please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 for more information on this, or the other small business helps offered by the CCRA.

Bradenton CCRA to Offer Business Plan Class: November 9th Start Date

Business Planning Course

An important first step to having a successful business is to have a business plan. The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) is offering a business plan development class that will provide entrepreneurs with technical assistance to put all of the things in place that make for a successful business.

When: November 9th, 16th, 30th and December 7th, 2006. This is a four session class, which meets Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

Where: Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA)
2002 Martin Luther King Avenue East
Bradenton, FL 34208

Cost: $39 for the entire course

Business Plan Course Goals

The goal of this class is to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools to plan for a successful business, demystifying the business planning process, and assisting in the development of a business plan. Components of a business plan include: self assessment, description of products and services, marketing strategies, competition, management structures, location, ownership, and financial considerations (such as start-up costs, projected profits and losses, cash flow, equipment, and personal finances). This class will cover the strategic plan entrepreneurs need to have, as well as the lease agreements, licenses, letters of intent, and closing documents that need to be in order.

Contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 to register, or to find out more information on the class.

Bradenton CCRA Entrepreneurial Boot Camp Graduation Party

On October 3, 2006, twenty four individuals completed the Entrepreneurial Boot Camp, a ten week course offered by the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency. One of the CCRA's goals is to expand the commercial and entrepreneurial base in central and east Bradenton, and many of the participants in this session of the Boot Camp were residents of the CCRA district.

Sherod Halliburton, Executive Director of the CCRA, and Andy Fox, Dean of the Boot Camp, and principal of The Fox Advertising Agency Inc, in Bradenton, Florida were masters of ceremony for the evening.

To view a video of the ceremony, please click on the link below.

SEE THE VIDEO HERE

For more information on the small business classes and entreprenurial supports offered by the Central Community Redevelopment Agency, please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362.

September 11th, 2006 Washington Park Community Meeting

On September 11, 2006, the City of Bradenton - Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA)'s planning consultants returned for a second community meeting, so that they could present a revised neighborhood plan to the community. This revised plan was shaped by general planning knowledge, community input from the July 5th, 2006 community meeting, and survey responses to postcards sent out to the 1500 households surrounding the CCRA office.

The planning team presented the revised plan, and opened the floor to questions and comments. CCRA Executive Director, Sherod Halliburton, fielded questions regarding the CCRA's long-term goals for the CCRA's district.

On September 29th, 2006, the consulting firm will be presenting the plans to the CCRA Board of Directors at their monthly board meeting, which is open to the public, and meets at 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton, FL, 34205, in the City Council Chambers.

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency website (www.bradentonccra.com) has a variety of information on the mission, vision, and plans of the agency. You may also contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 with any questions.

July 5, 2006 Washington Park Community Meeting

On July 5th, 2006, the CCRA had a Community Meeting to unveil plans for the Washington Park neighborhood in the revitalization district. This meeting was not simply a presentation, however. This meeting was also designed to get community feedback on the preliminary plan, so that the resident feedback can be incorporated back into a plan that better mirrors resident hopes and desires for the community. At this community meeting, residents did surveys on their shopping preferences and desires, and ranked the types of shopping activities they would like to do at different possible locations. This feedback was taken by the planning firm, along with surveys done in the community between the July 5th meeting, and a second September 11th meeting, and were incorporated into a later revised version of the plan.

Map of Washington Park Neighborhood. This neighborhood is bordered on the north by Martin Luther King Ave E, on the south by 13th Avenue, on the east by 9th Street East, and on the west by 1st Street East.

Residents Giving Listening to the Preliminary Plan, and Giving Feedback

Residents Marking Shopping Preferences on Maps of Proposed Shopping Locations

Presentation of Preliminary Plan