City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency Wins State Redevelopment Award

Press Release

CENTRAL COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
302 Manatee Avenue E
Suite 301
Bradenton, FL 34208

Contact: Sherod Halliburton FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: (941) 744-2362 11:00 AM, October 11, 2011
Fax: (941) 744-2380

City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency Wins State Redevelopment Award

Bradenton, FL – The City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) is one of 12 organizations to be honored by the Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) in Orlando, FL on October 20, 2011 at its Annual Conference.

The President’s Award will be given to the CCRA for its role in creating the CareerEdge Funders Collaborative of Manatee and Sarasota. The Central Community Redevelopment Agency was catalytic in the creation of CareerEdge Funders, a bi-county workforce funders collaborative. CareerEdge has made impressive progress in preparing CCRA residents and employers for the high-growth jobs of the future by providing funding for trainings that will move employees up career ladders in living wage jobs. This model increases the competitiveness of the region by preparing employees for the jobs that employers need filled on a long-term basis. This workforce model increases capacity of the CCRA to leverage additional funding to meet its master plan goals by aligning its goals of business attraction and business development with the goals of the region. CareerEdge has become a catalyst for change in the CCRA, and in Manatee and Sarasota County.

“The Bradenton CCRA is honored to accept the FRA President’s Award. This award acknowledges the importance of workforce development as a key component to revitalizing economically challenged communities. The CCRA recognizes that the development of human capital is a necessary ingredient to its holistic approach to redevelopment,” CCRA Executive Director Sherod Halliburton said.

Mireya Eavey, CareerEdge Executive Director, expressed her thoughts on the award: “Our Investor Group is excited to see the redevelopment community recognize and embrace the CareerEdge model. Though our work has been spotlighted within the workforce development community, this honor by the Florida Redevelopment Association signals how our innovative approach is joining forces with CRA and economic development professionals to make a tangible difference in the lives of low-income families.” CareerEdge was created with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Bank of America, the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority and 14th Street CRA, and Manatee Community Action Agency. It is also supported by contributions from the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, Microsoft, City of Sarasota Newtown CRA, Sarasota County Government, Jane’s Trust, and Suncoast Workforce.

Each year the FRA honors redevelopment leaders throughout the state for implementing outstanding economic growth projects and programs in Florida. Carol Westmoreland, Executive Director of the Florida Redevelopment Association said “This program is an outstanding example of what CRA monies can do, and how they can be leveraged for sustainable job creation and economic development.” Founded in 1974, the FRA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting Florida professionals and volunteers in community revitalization efforts. With its mission of “transforming spaces, revitalizing places,” FRA is committed to providing a forum for its more than 300 members to share knowledge and common experiences regarding revitalization opportunities and issues. FRA encourages adoption of legal and financial tools and programs favorable to community growth and serves as a statewide clearinghouse for redevelopment information.

For more information on the Central CRA or CareerEdge, please contact Sherod Halliburton at (941) 744-2362.

A community redevelopment area of the City of Bradenton, the Central Community Redevelopment Agency was created in July 12, 2000 under the authority of sections 163.330-163.45 of the Florida Statutes and funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue as a special taxing district of the City of Bradenton. Charged with the redevelopment of a district designated as neglected and blighted, this designation provides the CCRA a dedicated funding source to support targeted economic development projects and allows the CCRA to leverage outside funds to expand the reach of the TIF revenue.

CareerEdge provides opportunities for good jobs and better wages in Manatee and Sarasota counties through training. This innovative partnership of business, civic, and philanthropic organizations leverages public and private dollars to create real jobs and make the two-county region’s business climate more competitive. CareerEdge is the first regional collaborative of workforce investors in the southeastern United States to be designated as a site of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
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Bradenton Nine Devils - Honoring The CCRA's Past

It's always exciting to work with community partners on events that honor the people and events who were important in the history of our CRA. The Bradenton Nine Devils was Bradenton’s Black baseball team that thrived in the independent Florida State Negro League from 1937 to 1956. The team was made up of players from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

On October 22nd, come out and learn about our Bradenton history at this event held to honor these Bradenton (and Sarasota) athletes.

CCRA Board Member Recipient of NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award

Longtime Central Community Redevelopment Agency Board Member, Lynette Edwards, received the Manatee County Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Awards Banquet on August 17, 2011. Ms. Edwards has been a true leader on our board, and exemplifies the same characteristics seen by friends and colleagues throughout her professional career as an educator.

We extend heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Edwards for this honor.

An article from "The Bradenton Herald" about the event is below.

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Inspiration at NAACP event: ‘Our young people need dreams’
Published: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011
Updated: Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011
By RICHARD DYMOND
rdymond@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Law enforcement agencies across the state of Florida would like to hire more African-American men and women as deputies and police officers.

State attorneys would like more young African American prosecutors.

Chief justices in circuits across Florida often speak out about the need for more African-American judges.

But the keynote speaker who made these statements during Tuesday’s Manatee NAACP 2011 annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet also said young African-American men and women are not going to fill these positions unless they graduate from college.

“We have access,” Nathaniel Glover Jr., president of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, told an enthusiastic crowd of 250 at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium that later rewarded him with a standing ovation.

“Now, give our young people an opportunity,” Glover added. “There is a whole class of young people who need a little help. Don’t be put off by their haircuts and how they wear their pants. Under that, they are intelligent. They need someone to reach out to them and say, ‘I’m going to help you.’ We should leave here tonight with the assumption that tomorrow we are going to go out and help a stranger.”

Glover, who was the first elected African-American sheriff in Florida during his tenure in Jacksonville, told the audience that African-American males comprise 50 percent of Florida’s prison population.

“Yet, we are about 17 percent of the entire population of Florida, so something is not right,” Glover said.

Glover also said that 75 percent of the babies born to African-American women in Florida are born to single parents. He implored the audience to commit to making a difference.

“Our young people need guidance,” Glover said. “Our young people need dreams. Some of these young men will never get out unless you all in this room step up. These young men have to get into higher education. You can’t navigate this society without it.”

Glover’s speech was part of a stunning NAACP banquet this year that featured not only five special award winners, but also a powerful opening invocation from the Rev. Kenneth Irby of Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church.

There also were two soulful musical performances -- one by Shantel V, Norman and a bluesy rendition of “A Change Will Come” by Zelda Mercado.

It is not often that a blessing of the food is a highlight of a banquet, but Irby was on fire with his prayer.

“Help us, Lord,” Irby prayed. “You are the God of our silent tears, our weary years and of our righteous indignation. Let us come together and turn to you regardless of whether we identify as Democrats, Republicans, tea party members or Libertarians. Protect us all from overt terrorism and quiet racism.”

Lifetime achievement

Lynette “Hayes” Edwards, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the School Board of Manatee County, won the NAACP’s 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award.

She dedicated the award to her mother, Mary Alice Shipp, who served the NAACP for 40 years. “I am most proud of my work in the community,” said Edwards, who is a mentor with two children’s organizations within Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

The Rev. James T. Golden won the Community Service Award.

“I am hoping my father, The Rev. James C. Golden, is looking down on me tonight,” he said.

Sabrina Crain-Sweeney received the Unsung Heroine Award.

Crain-Sweeney, who started the highly successful Gulf Coast Window Cleaning business 21 years ago, has been the passion behind the four-year-old Learn to Fish nonprofit, which helps disadvantaged women and children.

“My heart is for those who have suffered pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization,” Crain-Sweeney said.

Megan Zoller, an infant-swimming resource instructor, has helped numerous infants survive falls into pools.

“Her work has saved our babies,” said Sylvia Archie, chairwoman of this year’s NAACP banquet.

Kathyrn Houston Jones won the Presidential Award for her mentoring of young women in the community during the past 57 years.

Houston Jones is a charter member of the Sara-Mana Club, which, for the past 43 years, has put on a Debutante Ball, preceded by weeks of teaching young women “the social graces.”

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.

© 2011 Bradenton.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.bradenton.com

CCRA Celebrates 10 Years in Bradenton

Check out this great article about the CCRA in "The Bradenton Herald."
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/25/3369919/redevelopment-takes-off-in-south.html