Manatee County Small Business Finance Fair

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On May 19, 2009, the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) and a host of other government agencies and business support organizations will host the 2nd Manatee County Finance Fair, to provide small businesses the opportunity to interact with the small business lending community in a neutral environment.

For more information, please contact Veatrice Farrell of the Central Economic Development Center at (941) 744-2984.

Juneteenth Celebration: June 19th-21st (Revised Date!)

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May 2009 Community Calendar

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To have your events added to the calendar, please contact JoAnn at (941) 744-2362, or email her at joann@bradentonccra.com.

How to Start & Manage a Business--Starts April 23

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Marketing Class--Begins April 21, 2009

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Manatee County Small Business Lending Fair

Save the Date!

The 2nd Annual Manatee County Small Business Finance Fair will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at the Manatee Civic Center Longboat Key Room.

Stay tuned for additional details

CCRA 2007/2008 Annual Reports Available

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA), in accordance with Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, has filed a report of its activities for Fiscal Year 2007-08. The report includes an agency financial statement resulting from an independent audit of Agency’s Redevelopment Trust Fund as well as a comparison of the Agency’s goals, objectives, and policies to annual program accomplishments.

This CRA report for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 is available for review by the general public during regular business hours in the office of the Central Community Redevelopment Agency, 302 Manatee Avenue E, Suite 301, Bradenton, FL 34208. The CCRA can be contacted at (941) 744-2362 with any questions.

This 1st day of April 2009.

April 2009 Community Calendar

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To have your event added to the calendar, contact JoAnn at (941) 744-2362, or email it to joann@bradentonccra.com

Notice of Public Hearing: March 10, 2009

PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS NORMA LLOYD PARK

MULTI-USE TRAIL PHASE

OFFICE OF GREENWAYS RECREATIONAL TRAIL PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION

A public community meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 5:00 PM in the City Council Chambers at the City of Bradenton at 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton, Florida 34205.

The City of Bradenton CCRA will present a proposed design component for the Norma Lloyd Park located at 1024 24th Street East, Bradenton, Florida, 34208. Comments and ideas about the proposed project will be solicited and considered to help the CCRA and the City of Bradenton in identifying the most appropriate recreational facilities and amenities.

The City of Bradenton CCRA is also submitting a grant application to the Department of Environmental Protection requesting funding through its Office of Greenways Recreational Trails Program. The grant will assist in the construction costs for expanding the park development.

For more information, please contact the CCRA Office at (941) 744-2362.

Women & Minority Certification Class

The CCRA will be hosting the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce as they offer a Women and Minority Certification Class in conjunction with the USF-Tampa Small Business Development Center.

The class will be offered on Wednesday, March 18th.

Sessions will be held in English and Spanish.

To register, contact the Latin Chamber of Commerce or the USF-Tampa SBDC.

Norma Lloyd Park Community Meeting: March 9, 2009

On March 9, 2009 at 6:30 PM the CCRA will be having a community meeting at the 13th Avenue Community Center at 201 13th Avenue W to get community input on a walking trail that will be a part of Norma Lloyd Park.

For information on the meeting, please call (941) 744-2362.

March 2009 Community Calendar

The March 2009 CCRA Community Calendar is now available.

Contact JoAnn at the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 with any events that you would like to add to the calendar in upcoming months.

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February 2009 Community Calendar

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February's Community Calendar has just been completed! Contact JoAnn at (941) 744-2362 to have your events added to the March Calendar, or email her at joann@bradentonccra.com.

FREE | Tax Prep Schedule - Bradenton

The CCRA will once again serve as a site for Free Tax Preparation on Wednesday evenings from 5 - 8 PM.

The revised schedule for the FREE | Tax sites across Manatee County is below (please click the image for full sized view).

Central Community Redevelopment Agency 2009 Board Meeting Schedule

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CCRA State of the District Address: January 15, 2009

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency cordially invites you to its first annual State of the District address on January 15, 2009.

Tax Prep Volunteers Needed

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency is seeking volunteers for the FREE | Tax program.

You can help in any of the following ways:

Tax Assistance Counselor

• Become certified through self-study or classroom training, and by passing the IRS exam;

• Provide free tax assistance by preparing tax forms or answering tax questions;

• Help families and individuals one-on-one at tax sites throughout Manatee County

Greeter/Screener

• Assist at sites with intake; make sure taxpayer has all appropriate documentation

• Assist in friendly “traffic control”

The trainings will take place in late December / early January.

Over 150 people were served last year at the CCRA site alone, and many more were served throughout Manatee County. This is a wonderful opportunity to help working families make the most of their tax returns by making sure they receive all of the tax credits they're eligible for, without having to pay high tax prep fees.

Please call 359-5929 to find out more about becoming a volunteer.

Mark Your Calendars: Free Tax Prep Begins Again in February 2009

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) will be serving as a site for Free Income Tax Preparation this year.

Don't go out early and get your taxes done and pay a big part of your return with fees or Refund Anticipation loan costs--wait, and get them done for free, beginning the first week in February at one of the sites listed below! The Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the Education Credit may be available to your family if you earned under a certain amount this past year, and we don't want you to lose the benefit of these credits by paying fees you don't have to pay.

Dial 2-1-1 for an up-to-date schedule, or call the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 for more info about the types of returns that are within the scope of the program.

Norma Lloyd Park Groundbreaking Scheduled for December 3, 2008

The Groundbreaking Ceremony for Norma Lloyd Park has been scheduled for December 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

The Ceremony will take place at 922 24th Street East, Bradenton, FL 34208.

Please contact the Central Community Redevelopment Agency at (941) 744-2362 with questions, comments, or RSVPs.

November 2008 Community Calendar

The November 2008 Community Calendar is available, thanks to the efforts of the CEDC, Inc VISTA Volunteer. Please click the calendar image to view it full sized.

If you have any additions to the calendar, you can contact Bridgette at the CCRA at 744-2362.