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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