TO: CRA Board of Commissioners
FROM: Ashlyn Darden, Legal Advisor
THROUGH: Renée A. Jadusingh, Esq., Executive Director
DATE: May 30, 2024
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APPROVE THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE A.-G.U.I.D.E. (ACHIEVING GOALS USING IMPACT DRIVEN EVALUATION) PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND AUTHORIZE CRA STAFF TO OPEN THE APPLICATION
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Approve the modifications to the A.-G.U.I.D.E. (Achieving Goals Using Impact Driven Evaluation) Program Guidelines and authorize CRA Staff to open the application.
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Background:
The A.-G.U.I.D.E. program was established to assist organizations that engage in activities that further the CRA’s mission. Through the program, the CRA can more effectively address several of the Overall Needs identified in the CRA Plan. However, changes to Fla. Stat. § 163.387(6)(c) limited the expenses that the CRA may fund.
In September 2023, at the A.-G.U.I.D.E. Workshop, CRA Staff and Board discussed modifications to the A.-G.U.I.D.E. guidelines based on the 2019 amendments to the statute and discussed City funding of the A.-G.U.I.D.E. recipients, with the exception of Affordable Housing related programs (See Exhibit A). The City informed the CRA that they would provide the CRA with $450,000 of $902,000 to fund a portion of the A.-G.U.I.D.E. Program with the anticipation that the City would fund the full amount in the following fiscal year.
This modification to the guidelines is needed to ensure that the program aligns with the changes to the statute. Although, the A.-G.U.I.D.E. program may still be used to fund the Affordable Housing related programs as the acquisition of real property and the creation of affordable housing is still a permitted expense under the statute.
CRA staff previously brought these modifications to the Board at the February 27, 2024 Board meeting. At that time the CRA Board approved the modifications. CRA Staff notified the Board that it would bring the final modifications to the Board for f...
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