EXPLORE FORT MYERS AT THE 2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
In less than one week the 2021 FRA Annual Conference will be underway! We cannot wait to welcome you all to the conference and Fort Myers.

Our official program features a wide array of programs and events, including ways to explore Fort Myers. There are Bus and Walking Tours on Wednesday to view firsthand the historic redevelopment projects and how redevelopment works in this city.

For more ways to experience Fort Myers, our FRA app will have a list of nearby restaurants and attractions to explore throughout your stay.

We are excited to see you in Fort Myers! Please note, onsite registration will be available for those wanting to attend.


The conference is set for October 27 – 29, at the brand new Luminary Hotel & Co. in Fort Myers. The FRA is following all necessary protocols to keep our attendees, exhibitors and staff safe.
FRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
SPEAKER SPOTLIGHTS
Excited about the annual conference? Here is a sneak peek at some of our guest speakers!

Meet Grace Gdaniec, Delray Beach CRA's manager! Grace will be participating in a panel discussion called "Giving Your CRA a Voice."

The session will explore ways to up your social media presence and tips on how to better communicate the great work that your CRA is doing to improve your redevelopment area.

Learn more about the conference and our planned sessions here.
Another guest speaker who will be presenting on Thursday, October 28, is Brian R. Prince.

Brian R. Prince, J.D. will be speaking at the "Innovations and Healthy Mixed-Use Opportunities" session. This session will cover ways to innovate your redevelopment project and the importance of mixed-use development.

Brian currently serves as Vice President of Development at Flaherty Collins.

He will be joined by Paul Rutledge, Senior Vice President of JLL, and the session will be moderated by Lynn Dehlinger.

Learn more about the conference and our planned sessions here.
GO MOBILE WITH THE FRA APP
The free, FRA conference app is almost ready!

We are finalizing the development of the dedicated annual conference web app. It will be ready just in time for attendees to use next week.

On the app, users will have on-demand access to conference information, schedules, speaker bios and more.

We encourage you to utilize the app throughout the conference as it is a great resource for all information and updates.

We will let you know as soon as the app is ready.
FRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
SESSION SPOTLIGHTS
We are thrilled to bring you three days of informative, redevelopment-based sessions!

One of the first sessions on Thursday is "Affordable Housing Challenges and Solutions." With a strong Florida economy, the lack of affordable housing has become a top issue for many communities.

This panel will feature experienced professionals discussing the causes, trends and current efforts to address the need for affordable housing.

Learn more about the conference and our planned sessions here.
On Wednesday, October 27, join the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a discussion on partnering with banks for redevelopment.

During "Partnering with Banks for Redevelopment," participants will hear about best practices and examples of bank partnerships in the community and economic development, as well as have an opportunity to discuss their existing projects and programs.

The session will be moderated by Brenda Thrower, Economic Development Specialist, City of Tampa, Ybor City Development.

Learn more about the conference and our planned sessions here.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR REDEVELOPMENT BY:
Using the 2021 FRA Annual Conference Event hashtag, #FRA2021.

We want to see your pictures and thoughts during the 2021 FRA Annual Conference, so tag us and use the #FRA2021 hashtag so we can see your posts on Facebook and Twitter.

The 2021 FRA Annual Conference will be held October 27 - 29 in Fort Myers.

Conference details and information can be found on the event webpage.
FRA RESOURCES
October 21, 2021

Thank you for supporting Florida redevelopment!
Have questions or news worth sharing? Email Amber Hughes at ahughes@flcities.com