Boynton Beach Insider

The Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA) was recently honored with a variety of awards for its redevelopment efforts in Boynton Beach. These awards include:

• International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Silver Award in the Business Retention & Expansion Initiatives Category for the Small Business Disaster Relief Forgivable Loan Program for the population category of 25,000 – 200,000.

• Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) 2021 Outstanding Housing Project Award for the Ocean Breeze East Affordable Multi-Family Rental Apartments

• The Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA) SUNsational Award, First Place Community Engagement Response to Pandemic for the Bon Appetit Boynton Beach Social Media Campaign

IEDC recognizes the world’s best economic development programs and partnerships, marketing materials, and the year’s most influential leaders. These awards honor organizations and individuals for their efforts in creating positive change in their communities. The Business Retention & Expansion Award honors economic development initiatives that focus on retaining and growing existing businesses within communities and regions. Applicants demonstrate extensive cross-community collaboration and the ability to adapt through effective innovative programs and initiatives.

The BBCRA’s Small Business Disaster Relief Forgivable Loan Program distributed $1 million in loans to 101 businesses within the BBCRA Area. Using these funds, the BBCRA provided eligible businesses a forgivable loan of up to $10,000 to offset costs associated with utility, payroll, or inventory expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The modest grant was a lifeline to our small businesses as navigation of other federal or state programs’ application process was overwhelming and some of our small businesses did not qualify for the programs offered. The BBCRA also approved a COVID-19 Commercial Rent Reimbursement Relief Grant Program (CCRRRP) to current and/or previous Commercial Rent Reimbursement grant recipients from the past five years with an additional six months of 50% matching rent reimbursement assistance for the months of March-August 2020. This emergency rent reimbursement program assisted an additional 42 businesses with relief funding totaling $289,119.

The Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) awards program recognizes the best in redevelopment in Florida. Within 13 juried categories, the Roy F. Kenzie Awards celebrate the most innovative and effective redevelopment programs in Florida. Winners demonstrate innovation and a positive impact on their communities and inspire other Florida communities. The FRA presents awards annually to projects that exhibit the best practices in Florida redevelopment over the past year. The winners are highlighted in the 2021 Best Book along with the other entries received as a celebration of the quality work that has transformed Florida in 2021.

This year the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (BBCRA) was awarded the Outstanding Housing Project Award for the 123 unit Ocean Breeze East Affordable Multifamily Rental Apartments Project. The project rose above the other submissions not only for the quality design but also for the flexible financing options in the Purchase and Development Agreement and the collaboration between the CRA, City, and the developer, Centennial Management Corp.(CMC), to deliver the much needed units in record setting pace (12 months), inspite of the challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This project, located at 700 N. Seacrest Boulevard, was purchased by the BBCRA in May 2007 after the multi-family housing on the property had been condemned due to hurricane damage.  In 2016, the BBCRA rezoned the 4.32 acres to allow for a higher maximum density which initiated development interest. The $26 million dollar project consisted of 123 multi-family affordable rental units, three story structures with residential amenities, 2,300 square feet of “flex and community space,” new sidewalks, street lighting, on-street parking spaces, a plaza-style open space, and enhanced landscaping.

For over 20 years, FFEA has been promoting and strengthening the festival, event and fair industry in Florida. The FFEA SUNsational Awards recognize members’ innovation, individuality and creative collaboration from organizations throughout the state of Florida. The Community Engagement Response to Pandemic Award honored the Bon Appetit Boynton Beach Social Media Campaign. This digital marketing campaign included a series of professional videos showcasing six chefs, affiliated with restaurants located within the BBCRA Area, preparing a specialty item from their respective menu. Since this campaign was launched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, viewers were encouraged to either prepare the meal for themselves at home or order the prepared menu item directly from the restaurant via available dine-in or take-out options. In addition to the preparation of the menu item, each video provided a brief overview of the restaurant, including the type of food served, location, and business hours.

Since its inception in 1982, the BBCRA has been redeveloping and revitalizing Boynton Beach’s east-west commercial corridors along US1/Federal Highway, from Gulfstream Boulevard to NE 26^th Avenue. To spur economic development, the BBCRA has utilized incentive funding to recruit new businesses and assist in the expansion of existing businesses through its various grant programs and creative marketing strategies to promote and support its local businesses.  The BBCRA remains unwavering in its commitment to support the local business community during these uncertain and difficult times.