30 May CRA Board Approves Funding for the Fred Deluca Teen Center
On May 21, 2024, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners approved a CRA Development Incentive loan to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, Inc. in the amount of $307,633 for the Fred DeLuca Teen Center. The Boys and Girls Club celebrated the grand opening of the state-of-the-art center in April. The new facility serves teenager’s aged 13 to 18 and features a 7200 square foot building with a recording studio, technology lab and culinary arts kitchen. The Teen Center is located next to the Nan Knox Club at 832 NW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County is to enable young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The Teen Club’s goal is that all members graduate from high school with a plan for their future, demonstrate good character and citizenship by participating in leadership training and volunteering in community projects, as well as engage in nutritional education and physical fitness activities that teach and promote a healthy lifestyle. There programs provide a focus on academics, social recreation, health and physical education, leadership and citizenship development, cultural enrichment, and personal adjustment with one-on-one counseling.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County serves over 12,500 youth between the ages of 6-18 each year. The Nan Knox Club serves 1,054 members from the 33311-zip code and approximately 500 youth are from the Northwest Progresso Flagler Village CRA area (NPF CRA).
The opening of this new Teen Club is expected to create two new full-time positions and five new part time jobs. Moreover, it will be a pipeline for young talent to acquire jobs through its Workforce Development Initiative program. This proven program, helps place club members in part-time jobs, apprenticeships, or even full-time positions upon graduating from high school. Members can earn certificates in safe food handling, refereeing, OSHA 10, UPS Road Code Safe Driving, customer service, and other certification programs being added on a rotating schedule. These certifications give members an advantage over other job applicants. Youth get the chance to explore various careers based on their interests and talents, determine the corresponding educational path they need to pursue, and map out a plan for their future. In addition, the Club offers financial education resources and an interactive curriculum that helps teens gain useful knowledge and skills in financial literacy, including managing a checking account, budgeting, saving, investing, entrepreneurship, and paying for college.
The CRA’s contribution to this project represents 19% of the total construction cost and is consistent with the NPF CRA Community Redevelopment Plan which provides for direct physical improvements to enhance the overall environment, improve the quality of life and attract sound business and commercial development that provide employment and job opportunities.
For more information about CRA incentives, visit www.fortlauderdalecra.com.
Photos of the Teen Center during Construction are below:
