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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentsCOLLAI5ORAT1VE is DEVELOPMENT C :.) R F' r7 R A C I O N November 13, 2017 Hon. Francis X. Suarez, Mayor City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 RE: Funding Request for KROMA, Arts Incubator Dear Mayor, Suarez, This is to request funding for Collaborative Development Corporation's KROMA Art Space & Studios initiative in the amount of $50,000.00. We have been operating successfully and famously since October 2013 from our very own resources. The entire Coconut Grove community has embraced this effort and it has become a cultural icon and a source of pride by all sectors in City of Miami as well as South Florida. We are in critical need of your support. KROMA is a business incubator specializing in a particular industry: artist businesses. Recently renovated, it consists of 15 creative studios and communal exhibition space. It provides an opportunity for artists to engage in an income earning business, based on their artistic talent and endeavors. Space and professional services are provided for the development of the artist/microenterprise businesses. It creates jobs in the artist/businesses located in the KROMA Arts Incubator. An MOU with Partners for Self Employment, an established trainer, technical assistance provider and micro -finance partner has been executed. The communal gallery space is used to exhibit the work of a resident artist on a rotational basis and serve as a community space to feature the work of visiting artists or other such exhibits promoting the history of Coconut Grove. 3628 Grand Avenue • Miami, FL 33133 • Tel: 305.446.5150 • Fax: 305.446.9898 The mission of KROMA is to serve as an affordable, contemporary art space for artists, whose creative output will contribute to connecting the spirits of Coconut Grove's rich artistic past, present and future. KROMA Artists not only have space to present and sell their work, but they also can enrich the lives of those in the community through art workshops and classes. Since many of the artists are minorities, the exhibitions attract residents from Village West and other low- income, minority areas. Each artist in KROMA will have the ability to showcase their intense passion for their craft and the purity of their artistic vision. By providing this space to individual artists, KROMA has created an artistically diverse gallery that is defined by the artists who inhabit it. Ultimately we will fill a void as Overtown has done with the Lyric Theater that Little Haiti has accomplished with the Little Haiti Cultural Center and Liberty City has managed with having the African Cultura/ Center. Our proposition is incredibly cost effective beneficial initiative to the tax -payers and stakeholders It has been overwhelmingly funded by the Collaborative Development Corporation. Additionally, the Coconut Grove Village West, Heritage Tourism initiative and Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau's designation of KROMA, as an official Visitors Center goes far in creating economic opportunities for the neighborhoods' small businesses and its many residents who will participate as vendors, tour guides visual artists and roving ambassadors. As you may know; increasingly economists are citing that the arts are being used as a mechanism that's fundamental to economic development. Art attracts people, businesses and new investments. That's exactly our goals for Coconut Grove Village -West and already it's already bearing fruit. We hope this provides you with what you need to consider and approve our funding request. Visit kromamiami on Instagram and on Facebook. Please let us know if you need anything more. Sincerely, 2LJ 6. S. Rashid President & CEO 3628 Grand Avenue • Miami, FL 33133 • Tel: 305.446.5150 • Fax: 305.446.9898 KROMA Executive Summary This plan is intended to help the residents of the community realize their vision of establishing their community as a place where people can come together to live, work, and do business. Our goal is to; additionally utilize the arts and culture as a catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. The Village West community of Miami, Florida Coconut Grove neighborhood is entirely located within census tract 72, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, online American FactFinder 2010. Historically disinvested and with high unemployment and sub -standard housing the Collaborative Development Corporation (CDC) seeks to achieve its mission by attracting, expanding and retaining local business operations, providing affordable homeownership and other housing opportunities, increasing employment opportunities. The CDC's KROMA initiative leverages the existing neighborhood cultural programs into strategies that engage arts and culture in a broader community and economic development process. Including: i Heritage Tourism program: CDC has partnered with the greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to conduct heritage themed tours in the historic Bahamian/African-American enclave. LL Leading efforts for historic preservation initiatives and has successfully advocating for the designation of the area's Charles Avenue to become a historic thoroughfare. Additionally the CDC serves as the convener of the area's historic preservation committee. J Successfully launching the development of a 56 unit mixed -use residential and commercial development featuring Miami Dade College across the street from KROMA art space. The initiatives of CDC compliments each other and will catalyze business start-up and job creation. KROMA signals a positive and progressive move toward the revitalization and transformation of the area attracting a diverse patronage and revenues, setting a foundation that will accrue the critical mass of business and job creation. COWNEFORAFIV. I E LL PMLN C PO R k T 1 Mission Collaborative Development Corporation (CDC) is a private, nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to plan, coordinate and execute neighborhood revitalization projects, expand affordable housing availability and increase employment opportunities In South Florida. r Company Overview On November 14, 2001, Coconut Grove residents and business owners came together with the assistance of the University of Miami to formulate the Coconut Grove Collaborative to unify and advance efforts to revitalize the place they call "home' After four (4) months of community meetings, strategic planning and formal incorporation, the Coconut Grove Collaborative Incorporated (CGCI) emerged as a strong, unprecedented coalition of residents, stakeholder organizations and community partners. In 2010 the Coconut Grove Collaborative became part of the Collaborative Development Corporation (CDC) as we have expanded our horizons and mission throughout Florida. Pr Goombay Plaza Grand<Worm and Dagen Road Village West Island Disblcr �.. Cocorrur Grove Collaborative, NC. Description CDC seeks to achieve its mission by expanding and retaining local busine operations, providing affordable homeownership and other housing pportunities, increasing employment pportunities, and helping to rebuild the civic fabric in South Florida communities. Working in collaboration ith other community -based rganizations, religious and financial institutions, the Development Corporation has a goal of leveraging existing assets and attracting new investment to the community while ensuring that residents have access to the opportunities that result from the li rganization's efforts. General Information CDC is located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida. It is Volunteer -based and with numerous public/private partnerships, a formal Board of Directors, one President & CEO and administrative staff, CDC administers the following projects/initiatives: Affordable Housing Projects Business and Economic Development Grand Avenue Kiosk Project (Entry -Level Retail Start-up Business) Technical Assistance for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Homeownership and Financial Literacy Training Off -Street Parking Projects Historic Preservation Retention and Promotion of Cultural Heritage ••• .„ yibson Plaza rij A Rental Community Contact: Collaborative Development Corporation 3628 Grand Ave Miami FL, 33133 info@cdc- florida.org (305)-446-5150 www.cdc-florida.org