Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida EC

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2007
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Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida Enterprise Community
Lead Entity: The Community Foundation of Collier County

Demographics State: Florida
Counties: Collier (0112.3, 0113, 0114) and Hendry (9602)
Tribes: Seminole Tribe of Florida
Community Population: 24,434
Net Land Area: 751 square miles
Poverty Rate: 38%

Background

Round I Champion Community; has made great accomplishments since 1994.
High concentration of low-income migrant farm workers
Multi-cultural applicant that includes Seminole Indian, Hispanic, and Haitian communities
The Community Foundation of Collier County has a long track record of service in the community as a nonprofit foundation providing social services to low-income residents.

Community Overview

The economy of rural Southwest Florida has been and continues to be based primarily on agriculture, which has not kept pace with job growth throughout the state of Florida. The area continues to have lower earned income, higher unemployment, lower property values and fewer opportunities for employment. Any employment growth has been concentrated in lower wage sectors that are highly vulnerable to cyclical changes in economic conditions. Regionally, the major economic contributors are retirement, tourism, construction, agriculture and the environment.

Strategic Plan Highlights

With the implementation of the strategic plan, the community strives to balance economic and community development.

Education and Training—educational and self sufficiency skills, vocational education and job training, computer access/distance learning opportunities, better access to services;

Economic Development—increase small business start-ups and expansions, business development and retention; health care industry expansion;

Housing–affordable housing construction; housing rehabilitation; migrant farmworker housing; and

Community Image—maximize recreational opportunities, creation of cultural opportunities in cooperation with local businesses, youth development programs and schools, volunteerism and neighborhood beautification.

Partnerships

Various partners within the community have given technical assistance and in-kind contributions to the development and implementation of the strategic plan. Partners include non-profits, local governments, area businesses, public schools and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Leveraging

The Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida has identified a range of organizations at the federal, state, and local level for funds, technical assistance and in-kind contributions.

Community Involvement

Outreach was made to all segments of the community. Meeting notices and surveys were published in English, Spanish and Creole. Community meetings were held where each of the ethnic groups (Hispanic, Haitian, African American and White) were represented and translation was provided at all the meetings. There is a strong sense of unity and involvement within the community. Residents voiced their continued support and participation with the implementation of their strategic plan.

Contact:	Barbara Cacchione
Address:	2400 Tamiami Trail North, #300
	Naples, Florida 34103
Telephone:	(941) 649-5000
Fax:	(941) 649-5337
Email:	bcacchione@comcast.net
Website:	http://aps.naples.net/community/NFNWebpages/storyboard.cfm?StoryBoardNum=229&PageNum=1

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