County CRAs have advisory board vacancies

Citizens interested in serving the community are needed for the citizens advisory boards for the county's Community Redevelopment Areas.

The county is accepting applications for the 14th Street West and South County CRAs, it said in a press release on Thursday.

Community Redevelopment Areas are designed to attract commercial and building projects to a specific area to improve the area, increase the tax base and encourage public and private improvements.

Each advisory board has five to 15 volunteer members appointed by the County Commission. Members serve three-year terms. As much as possible, all members should live, work or own property within the CRA, and know the area and the issues that impact it.

The 14th Street West CRA is bounded by 14th Street West from the Bradenton City limits at 26th Avenue West to Cortez Road (north to south) and generally Ninth Street West to 18th Street West (east to west). The 14th Street West CRA Citizen Advisory Board meeting is held at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Peace Lutheran Church, 1611 30th Ave. W., Bradenton.

The South County CRA is bounded by 53rd Avenue West on the north, Bowlees Creek, west of 15th Street (Old U.S. 301) on the east, 65th Avenue and the U.S. 41 corridor to 69th Avenue West on the south, and the west side of U.S. 41 on the west. The South County CRA Citizen Advisory Board meeting is held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at Harllee Full Service Family Center, 6423 Ninth St. E., Bradenton.

When possible, applicants should include property owners and/or residents; merchants and business owners; work force development people; members of the development community (for example, developers, architects, planners and engineers); human services people; members of the arts community; faith/religious community members; law enforcement; real estate; Latin/Hispanic community; and the Manatee County School District.

To apply or to learn more, visit the Web site or call the Neighborhood Services Department at (941) 749-3029.