95-38RESOLUTION NO. 95 -38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ENTERPRISE ZONE STRATEGIC
PLAN; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 95 -37, adopted by the City Commission of the
City of Clearwater on April 20, 1995, the City Commission found and declared that the area
described in Exhibit A to Resolution No. 95 -37 chronically exhibits extreme and unacceptable
levels of poverty, unemployment, physical deterioration and economic disinvestment; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 290.0057 of the Florida Statutes, the Florida Enterprise
Zone Act of 1994, empowers and requires the City Commission of the City of Clearwater to
plan for the future development and growth of the Enterprise Zone, and to adopt a strategic
plan, including elements and portions thereof, to guide the future growth and development of
the Enterprise Zone; and
WHEREAS, a strategic plan for the Enterprise Zone has been prepared in accordance
with all applicable requirements of law, after the performance of necessary studies and surveys,
the collection of appropriate data, and public participation through a public hearing, open
discussion, and the consideration of public and official comments; and
WHEREAS, the Clearwater Planning and Zoning Board, serving as the designated Local
Planning Agency for the city, held a public hearing prior to the City Commission's transmittal
public hearing and adoption public hearing, and has recommended adoption of the strategic plan;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission finds it necessary, desirable, and proper to adopt the
strategic plan for the City of Clearwater in order to plan for the future development and growth
of the Enterprise Zone; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Purpose and Intent.. This resolution is adopted to carry out the purpose
and intent of, and to exercise the authority granted pursuant to, Section 290.0057 of the Florida
Statutes, and the Florida Enterprise Zone Act of 1994, and more generally to exercise the
authority granted pursuant to the Florida Constitution and the Charter of the City of Clearwater,
in order to accomplish the objectives set forth in the preamble to this resolution. The provisions
of this resolution and the strategic plan adopted by this resolution are declared to be the
minimum .requirements necessary to accomplish the purpose, .intent and objectives set forth
herein.
Section 2. Plan Adopted. The Strategic Plan of the City of Clearwater's Enterprise
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Zone, a copy of which is appended to the original of this resolution, is hereby adopted and
incorporated herein by reference. Material identified as background information in the Strategic
Plan, including data, analysis, surveys and studies, shall not be deemed a part of the Strategic
Plan.
Mort 3. Seyerability. If any provision of this resolution or of the strategic plan
adopted by this resolution should ever be adjudicated invalid for any reason, such provision shall
be deemed severable from the remaining provisions of this resolution and the strategic plan to
the extent that the remaining provisions may independently be valid and enforceable.
e i n 4 Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of May , 1995.
Attest:
Cyn is E. Goudeau Rita Garvey
City Clerk Mayor - Commissioner
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Enterprise Zone Strategic Plan
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMUNITY GOALS
The area eligible for Enterprise Zone designation in the City of Clearwater is the most distressed part
of our community. Property values in that area are declining by an inflation adjusted 2.4% per year.
Values for the City as a whole are keeping pace with inflation. This area has the highest
concentration of substandard housing, commercial vacancy, unemployment, and poverty in
Clearwater.
Our ambition is to revitalize this distressed area. Four goals form the foundation of the Enterprise
Zone Strategic Plan: provide quality affordable housing; bring all residential and commercial
structures into code compliance; encourage new business and the expansion of existing business; and
create jobs for residents of the Enterprise Zone. Over the ten -year life span of the Enterprise Zone
our strategic plan will leverage investment of $25,000,000 in the commercial, industrial and
residential property in the area. This level of investment will bring the Enterprise Zone up to the
same condition as the rest of Clearwater.
A) QUALITY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ENTERPRISE ZONE
There are 1,324 residential structures within the proposed Enterprise Zone; 75% do not comply with
city codes, 5% are vacant, and 3% are beyond repair and must be demolished. Most of the housing
stock (90 13/o) was built before 1960, and consists of small wood frame bungalows on elevated piers..
Our goal is to invest $11,300,000 in housing development through the following three programs.
1) Housing Rehabilitation Program
The City of Clearwater will market our Housing Rehabilitation Loan program to qualifying lower
income homeowners. Marketing will include newsletters, taped programs on our public access
television channels, and individual contact. The level of rehabilitation will range from emergency
repairs of imminent hazards to substantial rehabilitation. Clearwater's construction management
staff will help clients determine the level of rehabilitation needed, prepare bid packages, and
supervise the rehabilitation by a client selected contractor. Sources of funds include the Challenge
2000 loan funds, HOME and SHIP monies.
The average rehabilitation loan is $20,000 and the average emergency rehabilitation loan is $5,000.
Our goal is to finance the rehabilitation of 400 homes during the next ten years.
2) Ira -fill Dousing Program
Data obtained from the 1990 Census Data shows 54% of the occupied housing units located in the
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proposed Enterprise Zone are investor owned. In response to that data, Clearwater started the In -fill
Housing Program for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. During the first three
years of this program, fifty (50) new homes have been built. The City has forty (40) approved
applicants on a waiting list with nearly 100 people scheduled for orientation seminars. A study by
the University of South Florida shows that there are 427 vacant lots in the proposed Enterprise Zone
suitable for development.
The program will be marketed to first time home buyers through newsletters, taped programs on
public access television, and area neighborhood meetings. Residents in public housing and
apartment complexes units are our primary targets. Both Clearwater Neighborhood Housing
Services (CNHS) and Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation are partners with the City
in this marketing effort.
CNHS participates in the Neighborhood Works Campaign for Home Ownership. This is a national
program of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation intended to increase home ownership
opportunities for first time home buyers. It is a strong marketing resource for our In -fill program.
Clients who are not ready for loan approval due to delinquent debt obligations, excessive debt to
income ratios, or unsatisfactory credit history will be referred to the budgeting classes of CNHS and
Community Services Foundation credit counseling service for assistance.
Clearwater will use Challenge 2000 funds, HOME funds, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation
funds, and SHIP funding for mortgage loans. The average In -fill loan is approximately $60,000
with an additional $10,500 for down payment assistance. Our goal for the In -fill housing program
is to construct 200 new homes in the next ten years.
The benefits of this program include the creation of home ownership for first time home buyers,
elimination of vacant lots, the demolition of unsafe structures, stabilization of the area, and increased
property values. Reversing declining property values in the proposed Enterprise Zone is a primary
objective of the Enterprise Zone Strategic Plan.
3) Tenant Conversion Program
Investor owned property is approximately 54% of all housing stock in the proposed Enterprise Zone.
This program will help tenants who want to buy the home they are currently renting or another
existing home that is available for sale. It will be marketed with the In -fill housing program to
residents of public housing and area apartment complexes. The City will use its rehabilitation
program for improvements needed to bring the house into compliance. It is anticipated that the
average tenant conversion loan will be around $45,000. Program funds for the first year include a
$500,000 conunitment from a local savings and loan and Clearwater HOME monies. The goal for
tenant conversion to home ownership is included in the In -fill Housing program goal.
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B) CODE COMPLIANCE
The Community Response Team (CRT) will work with property owners in the Enterprise Zone to
achieve voluntary code compliance. The department will enforce codes for both site related
violations and structure related violations. CRT will use the County court system to enforce
compliance by uncooperative violators. The goal of the Community Response Team is to bring this
area to the same level of compliance as the rest of the City.
C) RECRUIT NEW BUSINESSES AND EXPAND EXISTING BUSINESSES
Through the Enterprise Zone Development Agency (EZDA), the partnership of government,
business, and nonprofit organizations, Clearwater will market the tax incentives, financing help, and
technical support to existing and potential business that may develop in the Enterprise Zone. Our
goal is to create 20 new businesses and generate $13,000,000 of business investment in the zone over
the next ten years.
D) JOB CREATION
The planned business investment will create 390 jobs over the life of the Enterprise Zone. Our goal
is to place at least 80 residents of the zone in these new jobs. As a participant in the EZDA the
Pinellas Private Industry Council (PPIC) will work with expanding and new businesses to help them
meet their employment needs. PPIC will recruit residents for these new jobs.
II. DESCRIJPTION OF THE COORDINATED EFFORTS FOR
REVITALIZATION
Clearwater has focused the activities of several municipal departments and nonprofit agencies to
address economic development needs of the Enterprise Zone. Within City government, the
departments of Police, Central Permitting, the Community Response Team, and Economic
Development are working cooperatively to revitalize this area. Other governmental agencies
participating in the effort include the Pinellas Private Industry Council and the Clearwater
Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
Several private nonprofit agencies will also coordinate their revitalization activities in the proposed
Enterprise Zone. These agencies are: Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services (CNHS), the
North Greenwood Association, and the Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation.
Additional, several social services agencies provide program support in the proposed Enterprise
Zone.
The Enterprise Zone Development Agency (EZDA) will coordinate the governmental and nonprofit
agencies. The EZDA Board of Commissioners represents all these groups. This strategic
redevelopment plan for the Enterprise Zone outlines the activities coordinated through the EZDA.
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Below is a list of the programs by department or agency that will focus on the redevelopment of the
proposed Enterprise Zone,
A) POLICE
The National Service Trust recently funded St. Petersburg Junior College, with the Clearwater and
St, Petersburg Police Departments, through an "Americorps" grant. The College's program is called
project "NuCops" (Neighborhoods Uniting in a Coalition for Public Safety). It involves a total of
thirty (30) young adult participants. They are assigned to community based projects relating to
crime prevention, neighborhood problem solving, victim assistance activities, tutoring of
neighborhood youth, neighborhood beautification projects and other duties. The targeted areas in
Clearwater are within the proposed Enterprise Zone.
The U.S. Department of Justice Anti -Drug Abuse Program has awarded two grants to the City of
Clearwater. The Police Department used this funding to create three Community Policing Teams
in North and South Greenwood and North Fort Harrison areas. These neighborhood Police
Substations are within the proposed ,Enterprise Zone.
B) CENTRAL PERMITTING
The department's Unsafe Building Program brings buildings into code compliance or demolishes
those that do not comply and continue to pose a threat to neighborhood safety, appearance and
quality of life. Over 90% of this program's activities are in the proposed Enterprise Zone.
Central Permitting will also prepare zoning amendments to create district parking in the North
Greenwood and North Fort Harrison neighborhoods. These two neighborhoods are among the oldest
in Clearwater. Average lot sizes are 3,000 square feet. On site parking requirements are an
impediment to the redevelopment of these smaller sized lots. District parking will eliminate a
regulatory barrier to development.
C) C:;MMUNI T Y RESPONSE TEAM
The Community Response Team (CRT) regulates community image standards through the City's
Code of Ordinances, with emphasis on achieving voluntary code compliance through education,
comununication and cooperation. The Community Response Team has established a satellite office
in the North Greenwood area to provide better service to the area. The satellite office has increased
CRT's presence in the target area by doubling the staff resources from five city wide to five just for
the targeted area. In the next fiscal year CRT will expand the satellite office coverage to include all
of the Enterprise Zone.
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D) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The department will use several economic development tools to encourage development in the
Enterprise Zone, The Economic Development department has two loan officers on staff to help
small businesses prepare loan applications for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 7 A and
504 loan programs. The department has correspondent agreements with several area commercial
lenders to accept our loan applications for financing through these SBA loan programs.
Clearwater will use our economic development loan fund for short term loans to businesses
expanding or relocating in the Enterprise Zone. The department will also provide technical
assistance and training seminars to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Enterprise Zone.
E) PINELLAS PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL
The Pinellas Private Industry Council (PPIC) is the local administrator of Job Training Partnership
Act (JTPA) funds in Pinellas County. The Council's mission is to put economically disadvantaged
people to work through job training. The PPIC provides the only forum where private and public
sector leaders jointly consider the education, job training and employment needs of communities.
The Council's job training programs, marketed under the name WORKFORCE, are making a great
difference in people lives and in their futures. The Clearwater WORKFORCE Training Center is
one of three Pinellas County WORKFORCE training centers. WORKFORCE helps unemployed
adults and youth who are eager to be trained for meaningful work in Pinellas County.
WORKFORCE in partnership with the City of Clearwater has found summer job opportunities for
346 youth.
E) COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA)
The CRA has several programs that will help businesses that are in both the Enterprise Zone and the
CRA district. Interest Free Loan Program and the Storefront Improvement Grant Program
encourage businesses to improve the appearance of their property by awarding grants for
architectural design expenses. Large portions of the CRA are within the boundaries of the Enterprise
Zone. Businesses in this area can take advantage of the CRA's incentives and the State and local
Enterprise Zone incentives.
G) CLEARWATER NEIGHBORHOOD ROUSING SERVICES
Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services (CNHS), in partnership with the City of Clearwater,
provides technical assistance and small business loans to businesses located in CNHS' target area.
CNHS helps new and existing business owners to obtain the technical knowledge and skills required
to succeed in business. This Agency's Economic Development Loan Fund Program finances
business development, ownership and expansion,
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H) SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES
To meet the social and human service needs of the City and the Enterprise Zone Clearwater funds
a variety of programs through the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) and the City's
Social Service Grant Program. These funds must benefit at least 70% low and moderate income
persons or serve areas with populations of at least 70% low and moderate income. The proposed
Enterprise Zone is the primary target area for social service programs in Clearwater. Below is a list
of agencies and programs funded in part through CDBG that will address the human service needs
in the Enterprise Zone.
i
North Greenwood Association, Inc.
The North Greenwood Association operates a Community Family Center. The services address
substance abuse, early intervention for children, maternal and child health, intergenerational
activities, and neighborhood development issues.
Youth Builders of Clearwater
Youth Builders of Clearwater provides dropout prevention services to youth in the Enterprise Zone.
The program combines resources from the public and private sectors providing educational,
citizenship, and leadership training for disadvantaged youth. The program services are enhanced by
work experience and a network of mentors.
Chore Services
The Chore Service program helps elderly persons maintain their home in a healthy, hazard free
environment and provides part time employment for area youth. Program services include yard
maintenance-and household cleaning. During this program year Chore will serve 707 persons.
Community Pride Child Care
Community Pride has been providing child care services for in the North Greenwood area for 35
years. The children include those identified by HRS as abused or neglected, those living in homeless
shelters, from teen parent families, welfare recipients and low- income working families.
Homeless Emergency Project
The Homeless Emergency Project provides housing to very low income residents of Pinellas County
who are homeless, The Project offers support services that allow individuals to become self
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sufficient.
Partners In SelfSujffliciency, Inc.
Partners In Self Sufficiency promotes economic self - sufficiency by providing support to very low
and low income families returning to college or technical school. The objective is to increase the
earning capacity, graduate, and become employed in their field of training.
Red Ribbon Homestead
Red Ribbon Homestead provides nutritious, specifically prepared meals and shelter for people with
AIDS. This program support the independence of persons with AIDS to remain in their homes as
long as possible.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army operates an overnight homeless shelter providing safe lodging for chronic
homeless individuals. The program objective is to provide case management and ease assistance
from other agencies to help individuals get off the street and into independent living.
Sgt. Allen iWoore Community Partnership
Sgt. Allen Moore Community Partnership empowers neighborhood and community leaders to
become self - sufficient in the planning and application of alcohol and other drug abuse treatment and
prevention programs. Through the SAFEHOUSE of North Greenwood, professionally trained
volunteers, provide a comprehensive network of family -based treatment and intervention services
to low and moderate income residents.
YWCA of Tampa Bay
The YWCA is a nonprofit facility serving pregnant and parenting adolescents. It operates a
subsidized infant and preschool program for low income teen parents and abused children. This
program gives children a healthy start in life through early intervention and quality child care. The
program also helps teenage parents to have healthy babies, obtain their high school diploma and
prevent further pregnancies.
I) TRANSPORTATI ®N
The Clearwater Engineering Department will coordinate several transportation infrastructure
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improvements affecting the proposed Enterprise Zone. Roadway improvements will include the
widening of Drew Street, Sunset Point Road, Highland Avenue, and Druid Road. Engineering will
also work with Florida Department of Transportation to relocate Alternate 19 from Fort Harrison to
a more appropriate road.
J) ENVIRONMENTAL
Over the years, Clearwater has acquired property contaminated by others. Several public properties
with known contamination in the planned enterprise zone are now being cleaned to prevent possible
off - property contamination to private and commercial properties.
Before City acquisition of property, Environmental Management staff evaluates private property
being considered for acquisition. The purpose for this program is to become a knowledgeable
consumer to not only protect the public interest, but to help current property owners know what to
do if contamination is discovered. In at least one instance, the City has acquired contaminated
property and paid the cleanup costs to facilitate the economic development of the area.
Economic redevelopment of the downtown core has been effectively limited by the absence of land
available for storm water quality treatment, a state and city development requirement. Clearwater
Harbor water quality has also suffered from the effects of untreated storm water runoff that has
further limited economic development. One solution to this problem is the development of a lake
large enough to accommodate storm water run off in the area. There is a proposal to create this lake
as a regional treatment system large enough to accommodate 100 % redevelopment within the
downtown core, including portions of the proposed Enterprise Zone.
Portions of Clearwater in the enterprise zone described have the oldest trees in Clearwater. These
trees, because of the nature of their location, can also become hazardous trees if not properly
inventoried, maintained, and pruned. This program will inventory all public rights of way trees and
rank hazardous trees for removal or pruning, followed by replacement where appropriate to do so.
This Enterprise Zone project is anticipated to become a priority for implementation early next fiscal
year.
uI. DESCRIPTION OF THE POVER I Y AND GENERAL DISTRESS
Poverty and general distress identifiers make the proposed area a likely candidate for an Enterprise
Zone designation. Of all households in the proposed Enterprise Zone, 32.7 % are at or below poverty
income. All but one block group of 6, have a poverty rate of 30% or greater. Poverty rates range
from 20 % to 37 %. The area also exhibits chronic levels of general distress. Twenty percent of the
households in the proposed area receive public assistance. This percentage is five times that of the
entire City of Clearwater and three as large as the percentage of households receiving public
assistance in the United States.
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IV. VERIFICATION THAT THE CONTRIBUTING ORGANIZATIONS
PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS
In our Enterprise Zone application (Attachment F) we will include letters of support documenting
participation in this strategic planning process from the various private and public organizations.
A partial list of these organizations includes; the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown
Development Board, the Old Clearwater Bay Association, the North Greenwood Association,
lenders and other private businesses.
V. COMMITMENTS FROM THE GOVERNING BODY TO ENACT
LOCAL AND FISCAL REGULATORY INCENTIVES
The City of Clearwater is committed to the success of the Enterprise Zone. The citizens and the City
Commission have shown their support for an Enterprise Zone. On January 1995 the City
Commission approved Resolution No. 95 -10. The Resolution placed a referendum on the ballot that
would give them the authority to give ad valorem tax exemptions should an Enterprise Zone be
approved. On March 14, 1995 the citizens granted that authority to the Commission by a margin of
5 to 2. If the proposed area is designated as a Florida Enterprise Zone the City Commission will
enact the following fiscal and regulatory incentives:
• Ad valorem Tax Abatement for businesses in the Enterprise Zone
• Electric Utility Tax Credit
• Water Utility Tax Credit
• Occupational License Fee Credit
• Building Permit & Inspection Fee Credit
• Forgivable loans
• Relaxation of parking space regulations in select areas to develop smaller parcels of property.
VI. IDENTIFICATION OF THE LOCAL AND PRIVATE RESOURCES
AVAILABLE IN THE NOMINATED AREA
Through the Clearwater Challenge 2000 fund local banks will make available $11,000,000 for
housing development over the life of the Enterprise Zone. Clearwater's local tax incentives for the
Enterprise Zone are worth $3,000,000. Private banks will also make financing available for business
development. Individual commitment letters from these banks are contained in the Enterprise Zone
application.
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If designated by the State of Florida, Clearwater will work with area banks to form a Community
Investment Corporation as part of the Enterprise Zone Development Agency. Florida Power and
Clearwater Gas will also consider incentive pricing for expanding and new business customers if we
are selected as an Enterprise Zone.
VII. INDICATIONS OF HOW THE TAX INCENTIVES AND LOCAL,
STATE, AND FEDERAL RESOURCES WILL BE USED IN THE
NOMINATED AREA
The local incentives will be used in the following manner. Clearwater will exempt 100% of the
taxes on water and electrical services for all new businesses located in the Enterprise Zone for the
next five years beginning July 1, 1995. All expanding and new businesses located in the enterprise
zone will be given an ad valorem tax abatement for the next 10 years beginning July 1, 1995. The
City will grant 100% abatement the first two years, 80% abatement for years three and four, 60%
abatement during years five and six, 40% during years seven and eight, and in years nine and ten
20% abatement.
All expanding and new businesses located in the Enterprise Zone will be exempt from paying fees
associated with obtaining an occupational license, building permit and inspections for the next 10
years beginning July 1, 1995. Impact fees cannot be abated due to jurisdictional sovereignty.
However, State Housing Initiative Partnership Program (SHIP) funds will pay impact fees for
affordable housing development located in the enterprise zone.
Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) funds and Small Business Administration funds will
allow the city to provide a package of financial assistance for business development. The following
State incentives will be used.
• Building Material Sales Tax Exemption
• Annual Property Tax Credit
• Job Tax Credit
• Electrical Energy Sales Tax Credit
• Business Equipment Sales tax Credit
• Community Contribution Tax Credit
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VIII. IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING REQUESTED UNDER ANY STATE
OR FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR THE PROPOSED REVITALIZATION
EFFORTS
The City of Clearwater has not applied for any additional funding under any state or federal
programs, however; the City of Clearwater currently receives funding from the following sources:
Funding Source Fiscal Year 95196
• SHIP Funds $595,000
• HOME Funds $350,000
• Challenge 2000 $1,000,000
• CBDG Funds $1,000,000
The description of how these funds will be used to revitalize the proposed Enterprise Zone are in
Sections I and II of this document.
IX. IDENTIFICATION OF THE BASELINE DATA AND BENCHMARK
FOR MEASURING THE SUCCESS OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN
Benchmark data may be divided into two categories: long -term and short -term. Long -term
benchmark data is data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau every 10 years. Short-term benchmark
data will be collected annually by the City of Clearwater or provided from other public or private
sources. The following baseline and benchmark data will be used for measuring the success of the
strategic plan:
Long Term
• % of home ownership
• Changes in the rate of unemployment
• Changes in the rate of poverty
• % of individuals on public assistance
Short Term
# of business created
• Ad valorem Tax assessment
• # of homes built
# of rehabilitated homes
# of small business loans
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• # of homes and other structures brought into code compliance
• # of business loans approved
The Center for Economic and Management Research (CEMR) at the University of South Florida,
with USF's Florida Center for Community Design and Research and Carras Community Investments
proposes to work with the City of Clearwater's Department of Economic Development to provide
technical support for collecting and analyzing data measuring the impact of the proposed Enterprise
Zone. This consortium has completed a survey of the sites in the proposed area and will be prepared
to evaluate the potential alternate uses for residential, commercial and industrial locations. The
survey also evaluates the viability of the proposed Enterprise Zone incentives and development
goals.
X. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
Clearwater City Commission will adopt our local incentives by resolution and ordinance within
thirty days of the zone's designation. The Enterprise Zone Development Agency (EZDA) with the
help of the University of South Florida consortium will prepare an analysis of all the available sites
for development to identify potential commercial and residential uses of available property.
With the cooperation of Central Permitting, the EZDA will use direct mail marketing to the 189
businesses licensed in the proposed Enterprise Zone. The EZDA will also work with Clearwater's
local access television channel to augment this direct marketing effort.
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