The Central Community Redevelopment Agency Has Moved!

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) has moved. Its new address is:

302 Manatee Avenue East
Suite 301
Bradenton, FL 34208

The phone number will remain (941) 744-2362, and the fax number (941) 744-2380.

The Central Economic Development Center, Inc., has colocated with the CCRA to this location. Their phone number is (941) 744-2984, and their fax number is (941) 744-2988.

Please stop by and visit us at this new location. We plan on having an open house after the first of the year, and we would be delighted to have you attend.

QuickBooks Accounting Seminar

Attention QuickBooks users! The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) will be offering several sessions to provide training to enhance your knowledge of QuickBooks 2007 accounting software.

What:

QuickBooks Accounting Seminar (Evenings)
Mondays, September 10, 17, 24, and October 1
6:00—9:00 PM

QuickBooks Accounting Seminar (Mornings)
Fridays, September 14, 21, 28, and October 5
9:00 AM—Noon

QuickBooks Accounting Seminar (Evenings)
Mondays, October 8, 15, 22, and 29
6:00—9:00 PM

QuickBooks Accounting Seminar (Mornings)
Fridays, October 12, 19, 26, and November 2
9:00 AM—Noon

Where:

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

Price:

$199.00 ($99.00 for individuals that live or work within the CCRA or for those that income qualify)

Instructor will be Sarah Keiser from Computer Renaissance in Bradenton. Participants will have hands on experience on QuickBooks version 2007.

Contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 to register or find out more information. A one week advance registration is preferred, but not required. A minimum of 6 registrants are required for the class to proceed. Payment is required on the first day of the class.

Evening Restaurant Seminar

So you want to start a restaurant?

The CCRA is now offering this class again in the evenings, to meet the schedule demands of busy entrepreneurs.

You can have a very effective marketing plan and great recipes that fill every seat, but without good organization, you could lose your profits before the food ever leaves the kitchen.

Topics include:

· What to include in a business plan
· Financing options (guest speaker Veatrice Farrell, CCRA)
· Operating organization
· Food cost control
· Standardized recipes
· Recipe costing
· How to control waste
· Purchasing tips
· Inventory ordering
· Hiring the right employees
· Food safety and sanitation

Dates: Wednesdays, September 19, 26, & October 3, 2007 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Cost: $99.00 for the three class course

Location: 2002 9th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208

Registration: Call (941) 744– 2362

CCRA Announces Entreprenurial Boot Camp

For individuals that are interested in owning their own businesses, the CCRA/Manatee Chamber Entrepreneurial Boot Camp can provide these budding entrepreneurs with the tools they need to be on the right track. This 10 week course will provide instruction from community business professionals on a variety of topics that future small business owners will need to consider to make their chances of success greater.

Topics include:

- Marketing
- Legal
- Business plan
- Buying a business
- Management
- Real world problems and solutions
- Budgeting, pricing and cash flow
- Resources
- 30 second commercial
- Chamber 101
- Human Resources ( Hiring & Firing, Product Liability)
- Property and Casualty (Insurance / Health Insurance)
- How to be bankable
- Small Business Administration

The price for the class is $195, but scholarships are available to those who qualify.

All classes will be held at the Central Community Redevelopment Agency at 2002 MLK Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208. The Entrepreneur Boot Camp will meet Tuesday evenings from 6-9 PM and dinner will be served beforehand. Please call (941) 744-2362 for more information.

Restaurant Seminar and Workshop

You can have a very effective marketing plan that fills every seat, but without good organization, you could lose your profits before the food ever leaves the kitchen.

Course Topics Include:

What to include in a business plan
Financing options (Guest speaker)
Operating organization
Food cost control
Standardized recipes
Recipe costing
How to control waste
Purchasing tips (Guest speaker)
Inventory ordering
Hiring the right employees
Food safety and sanitation

Dates: Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., July 17, 24, 31, 2007

Cost: $99.00 for the three class course

Location: 2002 9th Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208

Registration: Call the CCRA at (941) 744– 2362

CCRA Offers Series of Summer QuickBooks Courses

Central Community Redevelopment Agency

BRADENTON, FLORIDA, May 16, 2007: The City of Bradenton – Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA); Sherod A. Halliburton, Executive Director; and the CCRA Board of Directors, are pleased to announce that the agency is offering a series of QuickBooks classes for small business owners this summer.

Basic QuickBooks
Tuesdays, June 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th
9:00 AM—Noon
$99 for the four week course
(Fee includes 400 page QuickBooks manual)

Beyond Basics: Purchase Orders & Inventory
June 19th, 2007
1:00 –4:00 PM
$39 for the session

Beyond Basics: Payroll
June 26th, 2007
1:00 PM—4:00 PM
$39 for the session

Basic QuickBooks
Tuesdays, July 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st
6:00-9:00 PM
$99 for the four week course
(Fee includes 400 page QuickBooks manual)

All classes will be taught by Sarah Keiser from Computer Renaissance, and will be held at the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) at 2002 Martin Luther King Avenue East, Bradenton, FL 34208. Individuals interested in enrolling may register by calling (941) 744-2362, and should do so at least a week before the class (es) they wish to attend.

CCRA To Offer Free Tax Preparation

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) is offering free income tax preparation in conjunction with the AARP Tax Aide Program this tax season.

A family earning less than $31,000 with one child can get up to $2,200 back from the Earned Income Credit (EIC) on their tax return. A family earning less than $35,000 with two children or more can get up to $4,400 back from the Earned Income Credit (EIC) on their tax return. There are many tax credits available to families, and the CCRA hopes that this tax preparation service can be especially useful to families in our redevelopment district, to help them make the most of the most of their returns.

Individuals desiring to have their taxes prepared must bring the following information:

- Social Security cards (or 1099's) and photo ID's
- Social Security cards for dependents
- All W-2's, 1099's, 1098's, and other evidences of other income and deductions
- If married, filing jointly, both individuals need to be present
- Last year's return, if possible

Tax preparation hours are Wednesdays, 5:00 to 8:00 PM, through April 11th, 2007.

CCRA Entrepreneur Classes

This spring, the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) Central Economic Development Center (CEDC) is offering four different classes for small business owners. Topics are:

- Management (Begins February 20th)
- Marketing (Begins March 20th)
- Business Plan (Begins May 15th)
- QuickBooks (Begins January 29th and again on April 16th)

All classes are held in the evenings, from 6:00-9:00 P.M. Classes meet for 4 sessions, and the price for each four class module is $39.00.

Classes will be held at the CCRA office at 2002 Martin Luther King Avenue E, Bradenton, FL 34208.

Please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 for more information, or to register for the classes.

Lyles-Bryant Colored School Historical Marker Dedication A Success

Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the dedication ceremony for the Lyles-Bryant Colored School historical marker. The ceremony took place at the corner of 6th Street Court East and 11th Avenue East in Bradenton, Florida. Many segments of the community were represented: community members, politicians, religious leaders, and city officials.

The ceremony was a wonderful time to remember the role that the school played in the lives of many individuals in Manatee County.