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Home My WebLink AboutCRA-R-25-0022 MemorandumOMNI Board of Commissioners Meeting June 17, 2025 OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM Board Chair Damian Pardo and Members of the CRA Board Isiaa Jones Executive Director Date: June 20, 2025 File: 16965 Subject: Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program Enclosures: BACKGROUND: The Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program is a pivotal initiative by the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency ("CRA") aimed at supporting educational advancement among residents whose primary residence is within the boundaries of the CRA. In line with the 2019 Redevelopment Plan, which states, "investing in education is fundamental to the growth and empowerment of the community" (2019 Redevelopment Plan, p. 4-48), this program is dedicated to removing financial barriers for deserving students and promoting their academic success. The scholarship provides financial assistance to candidates who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to community service. Preference is given to students attending institutions within Miami or its immediate environs. If no suitable candidates are found in these areas, preference will be extended to institutions elsewhere in Florida. This approach reflects the Omni CRA's commitment to fostering future leaders who will contribute positively to the community's development and overall success. JUSTIFICATION: The Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program is a strategic investment in the community's future, directly addressing the need for educational support among residents within the CRA boundaries. By providing financial assistance to students, the program aims to alleviate the economic challenges that can hinder access to higher education and vocational training, effecting slum and blight. FUNDING: The recommended funding of $200,000.00 will be allocated from non-TIF Revenue source (rent income) Account No. 10040.920501.883000 titled "Other Grants and Aids." City of Miami Page 2 of 5 File ID: 16965 (Revision: B) Printed On: 9/16/2025 Omni C R A City of Miami Legislation OMNI CRA Resolution CRA-R-25-0022 OMNI CRA 1401 N. Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33136 www.miamicra.com File Number: 16965 Final Action Date:6/17/2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA") ESTABLISHING THE OMNI CRA FUTURE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT AREA ("SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM"); FURTHER ALLOCATING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($200,000.00), FROM NON-TIF REVENUE SOURCE ACCOUNT CODE 10040.920501.883000 TO FUND THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS IN HER DISCRETION TO QUALIFYING STUDENTS BASED ON ESSAY OR VIDEO SUBMISSION, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, AND PROOF OF ACCEPTANCE OR ENROLLMENT IN A SUPPORTED COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY, VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, OR ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE PROGRAM; REQUIRING STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY TO MAINTAIN A GRADE POINT AVERAGE ("GPA") OF 3.0 OR HIGHER, OR FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A VOCATIONAL OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TO DEMONSTRATE SATISFACTORY PROGRESS AS DETERMINED BY THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OR ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE PROGRAM'S STANDARD, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL, FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN. WHEREAS, the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency ("Omni CRA") is committed to fostering education and skill development within the community, aligning with the goals outlined in the 2019 Redevelopment Plan ("Plan); and WHEREAS, the Plan emphasizes the importance of educational initiatives to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for residents within the Omni CRA boundaries, specifically referenced on pages 4-48 and 7-64 of the Plan; and WHEREAS, the Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program will award eligible recipients an amount not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), covering/underwriting two (2) semesters of course training ("Scholarship Program"); and WHEREAS, students must be registered for a minimum of twelve (12) credits per semester or an equivalent full-time enrollment standard for vocational or accredited certificate program to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; and City of Miami Page 3 of 5 File ID: 16965 (Revision: B) Printed On: 9/16/2025 WHEREAS, the Scholarship Program will require applicants enrolled in a college or university to submit a five -page essay discussing Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs), with a specific focus on the Omni CRA, highlighting both positive and negative aspects, and proposing suggestions for enhancing the impact of the Omni CRA to the community; and WHEREAS, applicants enrolled or enrolling in vocational schools or accredited certificate programs will not be required to submit an essay, but must submit a video of no less than ten (10) minutes detailing how their studies will help improve their own lives and their community, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of living within a CRA community, and offering suggestions on what they would like to see done differently; and WHEREAS, applications will be vetted and graded by each of the Board of Commissioners of the Omni CRA, or a designated representative thereof, to determine the recipients of the scholarship based on the quality and insightfulness of the application; and WHEREAS, any student found to have engaged in cheating, including but not limited to, plagiarism, or the use of Al -generated content in their submission will be immediately disqualified from eligibility for the Scholarship Program; and WHEREAS, household income will also be a determining factor in the selection process to ensure that the scholarships are awarded to those who demonstrate need based on the national Free Application for Federal Student Aid ("FAFSA") standards, in alignment with the CRA's mission to support economically disadvantaged individuals; and WHEREAS, candidates must prove acceptance into a college or university supported by the guidelines of the Scholarship Program, a vocational school, or an accredited certificate program, or must already be enrolled in such an institution, maintaining a Grade Point Average ("GPA") of 3.0 or higher, where applicable, or demonstrating satisfactory progress in vocational or certificate programs, as determined by the vocational school's or accredited certificate's program standard to be eligible for the scholarship; and WHEREAS, candidates will be preferred for institutions in Miami or nearby; otherwise, preference will be given to institutions elsewhere in the state of Florida; and WHEREAS, priority consideration will be given to applicants pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics ("STEM") related fields at any of the abovementioned institutions; and WHEREAS, the total allocation for the Scholarship Program shall not exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00), with One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) designated for students attending a college or university ("Category 1"), and One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) designated for students accepted into a vocational training or accredited certificate programs ("Category 2") (collectively, the "Categories"); and WHEREAS, any unused funds from either Category may be reallocated to support the other Category to maximize the benefit to eligible students; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are adopted by reference hereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section. City of Miami Page 4 of 5 File ID: 16965 (Revision: B) Printed On: 9/16/2025 Section 2. The Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program is hereby established. Section 3. The Omni CRA Future Leaders Scholarship Program is hereby funded in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) to be allocated from a non-TIF revenue source Account Code 10040.920501.883000. Section 4. The Executive Director is hereby authorized to disburse funds in her discretion, in accordance with the guidelines established for the Scholarship Program, either as a grant or on a reimbursement basis, payable directly to the educational institution or to the student, upon presentation of invoices and/or satisfactory documentation from qualifying students. Section 5. The Executive Director is authorized to negotiate and execute any and all documents necessary, all in a form acceptable to the General Counsel, for the purpose stated herein. Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: X. 2O6R1iC . WYSON III, LIENERAL COUNSEL City of Miami Page 5 of 5 File ID: 16965 (Revision: B) Printed On: 9/16/2025