Welcome to Kids on the Beat

Where a Local Leader is Interviewed by an Up and Coming Kid in the District
Welcome to our inaugural CRA e-newsletter column, “Kids on the Beat” where Riviera Beach leaders are interviewed through the lens of local children.

ADULTING for us today is Debrah Hall McCullon, a Staff Assistant for the City of Riviera Beach. Ms. Hall McCullon is the personification of a true community leader in her relentless efforts to encourage professionally, personally and online all manner of what is good for the City.
KID-ASSISTING is Gerald Williams, Jr., an advanced Riviera Beach 3rd-grade student. Gerald plays trumpet and is learning the clarinet. He enjoys playing football (offense AND defense) and is trying to decide between the FBI or the DEA when it comes time to join the workforce. His backup plan is to be a professional football player and Gerald's favorite local hangout is the beach.
 
GERALD: What is your favorite place in Riviera Beach?
MS. HALL MCCULLON: My favorite place in Riviera Beach is Phil Foster Park under the bridge.
 
Did you always want to work with local government? Yes I have always wanted to work with local government. I started working with local government 30 years ago while I was in college in Tallahassee, FL, where I worked for Leon County at the Leon County Public Library as a library assistant, shelving books.
 
Is it hard working for the City of Riviera Beach?  It is not hard working for the City of Riviera Beach. It can be very busy sometimes, but not hard at all. 
 
Do you enjoy your job, and if so, what do you enjoy about it? I enjoy my job. I find it rewarding to be able to assist residents with the information that they need.
 
What does your typical workday schedule look like?  My work schedule involves providing lien search information to residents and business owners. I answer questions about lien searches through email and on the telephone. Sometimes I answer the city's main line where I answer questions and transfer residents to the appropriate city department that they need.  
Know a Riviera Beach kid or adult candidate for this column?
We'd love to hear from you.
Improvements Granted!
 Two Grant Programs That are Improving and Beautifying the District, One Commercial Property at a Time.
WHAT : Part of what we do at the Riviera Beach CRA is help the economic redevelopment of the District. Local businesses are one of the keys to our continued success. That is why we've created two grant programs that business owners with commercial properties in need of improvement might want to consider.

GRANT 1 : A Property Beautification Grant that funds 100% of the cost to paint, landscape and/or pressure clean an existing building in the District up to $4,000.

GRANT 2 : A Commercial Property Improvement Grant that matches every $1 invested by the owner with $3 in improvement funding granted by the CRA up to $40,000.

FINE PRINT : There are, of course, rules concerning eligibility for both grants, application processes, and board approval of improvement plans required. But at the Riviera Beach CRA, we're eager to fulfill our mission, and encourage commercial property owners to inquire about the programs now being planned for 2020.

PAST GRANT RECIPIENT : Dr. Monique Wellons' Riviera Beach Integrated Care , a non-profit community health clinic, was in need of signage, exterior painting and fencing. Total cost for the improvements was $32,750. Property owner investment: $6,550.
PAST GRANT RECIPIENT : Get Wet Watersports and RJ's Caribbean Restaurant are two Riviera Beach mainstays that not only feed the local need for water sports activities and delicious cuisine, but combined, these businesses employ some 15 local residents. Total cost of the plaza improvement: $40,000. Total investment by the property owner: $14,325.

Congratulations CRA Staffers
KiAndra Knighten Promotion

KiAndra Knighten has been promoted from Events Coordinator to Riviera Beach Marina Village Events Manager. KiAndra, who celebrates her 2-year anniversary this month, was born and raised in Riviera Beach and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelors Degree in Multimedia Studies and Communications. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and serves the community in many volunteer efforts with her university organization.

"My favorite thing about Marina Village ," says KiAndra, "would be my day to day client interactions. Serving the community I grew up in is an amazing experience and one of the main things I look forward to. We have wonderful signature events planned for this year that we cannot wait to share with you all."
New Hire Kristen Hicks

Please help us welcome Kristen Hicks, Riviera Beach Marina Village Events Coordinator and our newest team member. Kristen was born and raised in Central Florida, graduating from Flagler College with a double major in business and theater. She always has had a love for theater, so she started her career using her business degree working for a theater company and client rep at Ticketmaster. Kristen also gained significant events-related experience as a Campus Coordinator at her church.

When she’s not working, Kristen is raising her two children. She enjoys reading at the beach and spending time with friends and family back in Central Florida. She's passionate about serving the community and says she's for looking forward to assisting with CRA events here in Riviera Beach.

CRA Items of Interest
Do you need an Ocean Walk Walking Buddy? Call : 561-707-9602

Do you need a Marina Village Walking Buddy? Call : 961-707-9015

Do you see something unsafe or unsightly in the District? Call: 561-693-1171 

The CRA's General Meeting is slated for today, Wednesday, August 28. August Calendar

See the Riviera Beach CRA Website for business opportunities including RFQs, RFPs, ITBs and Letters of Interest