Central Community Redevelopment Agency Offers Free Tax Preparation

For the second year in a row, the City of Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency (along with the Central Economic Development Center, Inc) will be providing free income tax preparation in conjunction with the AARP Tax Aide Program.

This year, the CCRA will be partnering with the Tropicana Federal Credit Union to offer individuals rapid refunds through refund anticipation loans that will allow taxpayers to access their returns for a very small percentage of the refund.

Individuals who e-file will receive their returns in 8-12 days, and the return will be 100% free. Those choosing to pursue refund anticipation loans can receive their refund the next day, while paying approximately $7-$14 in RAL fees.

Tax preparation hours are 5-8 PM, Wednesday evenings, February 6, 2008-April 9, 2008.

The CCRA office facility is located at 302 Manatee Avenue E, Suite 307, Bradenton, FL 34208.

Please contact the CCRA at (941) 744-2362 for more information.

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.

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

CCRA Approved as Technical Assistance Provider by the Small Business Administration

CCRA Approved as Technical Assistance Provider by the Small Business Administration

The South Florida District Office of the Small Business Administration has approved the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) as a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) under the SBA Community Express Loan Program. The CCRA is the first, and only, SBA approved Technical Assistance Provider in Manatee County. This designation will allow the CCRA to fulfill the technical assistance requirement of applicants for the Community Express loan at its newly formed Central Economic Development Center (CEDC).

Technical Assistance has been recognized by both the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and the SBA as crucial to the success of small businesses. As a result, the Community Express program includes a specific technical assistance component. Borrowers must receive pre- and post-loan closing technical and management assistance from local non-profit providers and/or from participating lenders. Community Express lenders may also consider this technical assistance as a collateral enhancement.

The Community Express is a pilot SBA loan program developed with the NCRC. Under the pilot, an SBA Express like program is offered to pre-designated geographic areas serving mostly low to moderate income areas. The program also includes technical and management assistance, which is designed to help increase the loan applicant's chances of success.

The Community Express loan proceeds may be used to establish a new business or to assist in the operation, acquisition or expansion of an existing business. Business owners may manage and leverage resources by accessing counseling on debt management and other critical areas of business at the CEDC.

Now that CCRA has become the certified Technical Assistance Provider in Manatee, they have the ability to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs with the Community Express loan requirements. This is a major step in the economic development process at the CEDC as it adds an additional dimension for businesses to access legitimate technical support.

In partnering with the Community Express Lenders, The Central Community Redevelopment Agency and SBA can now assist borrowers with two fundamental aspects of an entrepreneurial effort - counseling and capital. For more information on qualifying for CEDC services, and how they can assist you, call (941) 744-2362.

Old Main Street Bradenton,
Florida 34205
Phone: (941) 744-2362
Website: www.bradentonccra.com

Article in Bradenton Herald about Boot Camp Bradenton Florida

Boot Camp boosts businesses
Posted on Tue, Oct. 18, 2005

KURT D. SCHULTHEIS Herald Staff Writer
BRADENTON - Tony Medina has owned Road Tech Automotive for 10 years, but he doesn't consider himself a business owner. Click here to read the full Article

The CCRA, which also applies for grants and other funding, is now touting itself as a one-stop shop for providing technical assistance and one-on-one counseling for clients who need help with an existing or future business. Through its economic development center, the CCRA also offers homebuyer workshops and other classes.

The CCRA's new center at 2002 Martin Luther King Ave. E. has a room set up for business workshops. Four computers with Internet access and marketing software complement a room filled with videos and books that offer business tips.

There are also offices set up for credit counselors and financial counselors, which can be contracted out by the CCRA to meet with clients who need their help.


For information on the City of Bradenton's Central Community Redevelopment Agency,
call 744-2362 or
visit them at 2002 Ninth Ave. E. Bradenton Florida
Website: www.bradentonccra.com

Central Community Redevelopment Agency Bradenton Florida

Central Community Redevelopment Agency

The City of Bradenton created the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) in July 2000 with the CCRA boundaries running in target areas between 6th Street West and 27th Street East. The authority to establish the CRA is enabled by Sections 163.330-163.45 Florida Statutes.

Jerry L. West, Director
101 Old Main Street Bradenton,
Florida 34205
Phone: (941) 708-6200
Fax: (941) 708-6258
Website: www.bradentonccra.com