Treasure Coast Business News January 31, 2023
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Treasure Coast Business News January 24, 2023
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The Source receives generous donation to Dignity Village
The Source receives generous donation to Dignity Village
Ms. Chesser, along with friends and family, joined Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of the Source, along with Source Board Members, to donate a generous donation to Dignity Village through her late husband’s legacy fund.
The Fred Griffin Legacy Fund, overseen by Mr. Griffin’s wife Susanne Chesser, seeks to distribute impactful financial grants to select Christian non-profit ministries who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their heart is to serve the needs of others, while using Fred’s legacy of generous giving to share the love of Christ.
Right after the New Year, Ms. Chesser, along with friends and family, joined Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of the Source, along with Source Board Members, to donate a generous donation to Dignity Village through her late husband’s legacy fund.
Dignity Village, the former Pelican Island vacation resort located at 11330 U.S. Highway One in Sebastian, will boast 18 one or two bedroom efficiencies once it opens this year. The individual air-conditioned units are being repainted indoors and outdoors, fully furnished with new furniture and appliances, towels and linens, well- equipped kitchenettes, flat screen TV’s and high speed Wi-Fi. The units have either attached screened-in porches or outside patios, and a newly refurbished on-site laundry center has coin-operated washers and dryers. An air-conditioned multi-purpose Community Room on campus is also being refurbished offering space for resident programs, meetings, income producing jobs and socializing. A storage area on property will be suitably renovated for use as a chapel for the residents and another with coin operated vending machines filled with snacks and beverages. Encouraging a community feel, an outdoor kitchen, as well as an outdoor movie theatre, will be constructed and the entire area will be re-landscaped.
According to Anthony Zorbaugh, “Once we discovered this beautiful parcel of land located minutes away from Sebastian’s Riverfront District (in between U.S. One and Indian River Drive), we knew this was meant to be our long awaited Dignity Village. This is our first foray into affordable housing for those in our community in need of having a roof over their heads. Thanks to the generous donors who support our goals and what we are accomplishing are thanked for helping to make these dreams a reality.”
I am Ministries DBA The Source is a Christian social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service for the homeless since 1995. Founded in Indian River County, the organization, inclusive of all people regardless of race, creed or color, serves its homeless neighbors through core programs that include Dining with Dignity-a culinary employability training program, Dignity Catering and Dignity Food Trucks, Dignity Buses-mobile overnight emergency shelters sleeping nearly 40 nightly, Dignity Village-20 affordable housing units, as well as a myriad of programs and services that instill a sense of community. For more information on The Source, contact Executive Director Anthony Zorbaugh at 772-564-0202, Ext. 204 or visit www.iamthesource.org.
Grant applications for The Fred Griffin Legacy Fund will be accepted that meet minimum criteria and procedures. Grants of $5,000 to $75,000 will be awarded to well-vetted ministries. A ministry must meet the criteria of being a Christian organization. Ministries who receive grants are welcome to apply for another grant after a waiting period of two (2) years. For questions please email [email protected].
The Fred Griffin Legacy Fund, overseen by Mr. Griffin’s wife Susanne Chesser, seeks to distribute impactful financial grants to select Christian non-profit ministries who proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their heart is to serve the needs of others, while using Fred’s legacy of generous giving to share the love of Christ.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
ArtsFest, Feb. 11 & 12 in Gazebo Park, downtown Stuart!
ArtsFest, Feb. 11 & 12 in Gazebo Park, downtown Stuart!
ArtsFest returns to downtown Stuart February 11-12 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. featuring a wide variety of visual artists, musicians, singers, and top area chefs. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $5 for adults, with children 18 and under free.
Consistently named one of the area’s Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society, ArtsFest will continue its 36-year history and showcase a diverse selection of arts to be enjoyed by residents and visitors. On the visual artist front, a juried art festival with submissions from across the nation will feature top artists in the categories of painting, drawing, mixed-media, photography, ceramics, glass, wood, sculpture, and jewelry are selected according to workmanship, originality, and artistic conception.
In addition to the juried art show, attendees can watch the popular CHOPPED event showcasing the inventive talents of renowned Treasure Coast chefs and listen to performances by the greatest talent on the Treasure Coast. Creating an added community ‘buzz,’ local agencies and nonprofit organizations will provide ArtsFest patrons with family-fun activities such as complimentary guitar lessons and getting up-close-and- personal with wildlife and nature along with information about a broad variety of supportive and enriching community programs and services
“We always aim to surprise and delight guests who attend Artsfest, and this year will be no different,” said Nancy Turrell, CEO of MartinArts Foundation. “ArtsFest is truly an extension of the expansive arts community we have on the Treasure Coast, and we love this opportunity to highlight their accomplishments.”
Leading up to ArtsFest, Martin County Office of Tourism and MartinArts are partnering again to host the Hidden Turtles scavenger hunt. Glass turtles, made by Palm City based glass artist, Dot Galfond can be found near cultural venues, art in public places venues and other popular spots in Martin County. Find a gold turtle and register it at MartinArts.org to secure two VIP ArtsFest Tickets. All other turtles secure a discount “buy-one-get-one free” ticket offer for ArtsFest.
Annually, ArtsFest draws over 7,500 people and over the past 3 years has generated more than a $1 million dollars to the local economy. For more information, access the website at MartinArts.org or call 772-287-6676. MartinArts is located at 80 SE Ocean Boulevard in the Court House Cultural Center in downtown Stuart.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
New outdoor classroom opens at House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart
New outdoor classroom opens at House of Hope’s
Golden Gate Center for Enrichment in Stuart
The outdoor classroom at House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment is a welcoming space for a variety of activities. The idea for an outdoor classroom was inspired by the need during Covid to find well-ventilated spaces for group activities.
An outdoor classroom tucked into a wooded area on Dixie Highway in Stuart is the newest addition to House of Hope’s Golden Gate Center for Enrichment.
“The interest in using outdoor spaces for programming during Covid inspired this permanent outdoor classroom,” according to House of Hope CEO Rob Ranieri. “It expands our useful space for teaching and learning, makes great use of the park-like garden that we’ve created on the campus, and helps with revitalization efforts for this part of our community.”
The outdoor classroom, a covered space that can be used year-round, was funded by a grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. It complements the classroom spaces inside the Golden Gate Center for Enrichment. “Our programs have proved so popular,” Ranieri said, “that we welcome this additional space.”
House of Hope’s Centers for Enrichment at both Golden Gate in Stuart and in Jensen Beach offer a full calendar of no-cost classes and workshops focusing on education, career readiness, health and nutrition, and arts and culture. Many of these programs are facilitated by partner agencies that are subject matter experts. Others are facilitated by House of Hope staff and volunteers. Services vary at each site and change to reflect the needs of the community. The Enrichment Centers also feature computer labs with access to free printing.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the new learning environment will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Golden Gate Center for Enrichment, 3223 SE Dixie Highway, Stuart, FL. 34997. For more information about House of Hope and its Centers for Enrichment, visit www.hohmartin.org.
About House of Hope
Founded in 1984, House of Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers Martin County residents to overcome hunger and hardship. House of Hope touches the lives of more than 7,000 people each month helping with basic needs such as food, clothing, furniture, financial assistance, as well as longer-term case management services that help build life skills for a more self-sufficient future. The organization has service centers in Stuart, Hobe Sound, Indiantown, and Jensen Beach, and a Thrift Shop in South Stuart, Hobe Sound and Indiantown. House of Hope’s Enrichment Centers in Stuart and Jensen Beach offer free programs, technology, and workshops designed to enhance life skills, earning potential, health, and overall well-being. House of Hope also operates the Growing Hope Farm in Palm City and several nutrition gardens that provide sustainable sources of fresh produce for clients as well as nutrition education and vocational opportunities to the community. For more information, visit hohmartin.org or call 772-286-4673. Updates and announcements can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hohmartin, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/houseofhopemc/, and Twitter https://twitter.com/hohmartin.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Martin County Schools offer $5,000 hiring bonus for educators
Martin County Schools offer $5,000 hiring bonus for educators
The Martin County School Board approved an instructional supplement aimed at alleviating staffing shortages at schools with urgent hiring needs.
Effective immediately, teachers hired to work at any of the Martin County School District's Title I schools or comprehensive high schools are eligible to earn a one-time bonus of $5,000. Eligible teachers must be hired or moving through the hiring process by March 6, 2023, to be considered for the supplement.
Newly-hired teachers must be hired at one of the following campuses to be eligible for the incentive:
- Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School
- Hobe Sound Elementary School
- Indiantown Middle School (teachers hired to work here are also eligible to earn a recurring Western Zone supplement for the duration of their employment at the school)*
- J.D. Parker Elementary School
- Murray Middle School
- Pinewood Elementary School
- Port Salerno Elementary School
- SeaWind Elementary School
- Warfield Elementary School (teachers hired to work here are also eligible to earn a recurring Western Zone supplement for the duration of their employment at the school)*
- Willoughby Learning Center
- Spectrum Academy
- Jensen Beach High School
- Martin County High School
- South Fork High School
The option to offer this employment incentive was originally approved by the School Board with its ratification of the Martin County Education Association’s (MCEA) 2021-2022 contract. As the District is presently experiencing a large number of instructional vacancies impacting core subject areas, Superintendent Dr. John D. Millay recommended that the School Board exercise its option to issue one-time bonuses of $5,000 to eligible newly-hired teachers of Title I and high schools.
The one-time bonus will not be prorated but will be paid in addition to any other School Board-approved supplement that the newly hired teacher qualifies for. As the purpose of the one-time bonus is to recruit new teachers to fill critical vacancies, current teachers are not eligible to earn the supplement. The one-time bonus will be paid to eligible teachers on April 27, 2023. After ratification by the Martin County School Board and MCEA next month, the starting teacher salary in Martin County will be $48,700.
Those interested in contributing their talents and helping the Martin County School District pursue its mission of educating all students for success are encouraged to review current career opportunities here or contact a recruiter by clicking here.
*The Martin County Education Association (MCEA) is expected to ratify an increase to the Western Zone Supplement in February 2023. After this agreement has been ratified, eligible employees will earn an annual supplement of $3,100 for the duration of their instructional employment at Indiantown Middle School or Warfield Elementary School.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
BofA investing up to $150 million in Middle-Income Housing Preservation Fund
BofA investing up to $150 million in Middle-Income Housing Preservation Fund
Collaborating with Enterprise Community Partners and Developers to preserve housing for middle-income earners
Bank of America Community Development Banking is investing up to $150 million in equity to preserve more than 3,000 affordable homes nationwide for middle-income households in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise), one of the nation’s largest affordable housing organizations.
Bank of America and Enterprise will help working Americans across the country earning between 80% and 120% of area median income remain in housing they can afford. According to the Pew Research Center, about half of Americans (49%) said this was a major problem where they live, up 10 percentage points from early 2018.
“As rent costs outpace income growth, the continued lack of affordable housing inventory is forcing families to make difficult decisions on how and where they live,” said Maria Barry, Bank of America Community Development Banking national executive. “This fund will focus on the “missing middle,” which refers to middle income individuals who make too much money to qualify for subsidized housing but make too little to afford market rate housing in their community.”
According to Harvard University’s 2022 State of the Nation’s Housing report, home prices rose 20.6% from March 2021 to March 2022 and rents jumped 12%, showing that unaffordability worsened even further in the past two years. Both Enterprise and Bank of America will leverage their national networks and resources to help accelerate the preservation of affordable housing.
“Preserving affordable housing for middle-income households is more critical today than ever as our country faces the worst housing shortage in generations,” said Lori Chatman, interim co-CEO of Enterprise Community Partners. “Through our work with Bank of America, we are able to fill a gap to creatively finance projects that will preserve the supply of affordable homes and build resilience and upward mobility for thousands of families.”
This fund builds on Bank of America and Enterprise’s partnership spanning more than 30 years to create and preserve thousands of affordable homes. It will expand the partnership to preserve middle income homes by investing critical equity capital to allow affordable housing providers to acquire existing properties that are at risk of being converted into unaffordable, market-rate homes and preserve their affordability for the long term.
Enterprise has 40 years of experience providing affordable housing solutions, capital and community development – under one roof. For 10 years, Enterprise has managed preservation equity funds, which have preserved more than 17,000 homes nationwide, valued at nearly $2 billion.
Bank of America remains committed to helping address the affordable housing shortage. With innovative capital deployment, like its $15 billion Community Homeownership Commitment, the bank works through its lines of business, partnerships and philanthropic support to help provide safe and affordable housing in the communities where we live and work.
Enterprise Community
Enterprise is a national nonprofit that exists to make a good home possible for the millions of families without one. We support community development organizations on the ground, aggregate and invest capital for impact, advance housing policy at every level of government, and build and manage communities ourselves. Since 1982, we have invested $54 billion and created 873,000 homes across all 50 states – all to make home and community places of pride, power and belonging. Join us at enterprisecommunity.org.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATM and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Arbor Day Foundation names Fort Pierce 2022 Tree City USA
Arbor Day Foundation names Fort Pierce
2022 Tree City USA
Fort Pierce was named a 2022 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. Fort Pierce achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
"Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Fort Pierce are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of Iife. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."
If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and extreme heat and flooding. Fort Pierce is doing its part to address these challenges for residents both now and in the future. More information on the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA
About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods communities, cities, and forests throughout the world.
Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees. More information is available at http://www.arborday.org
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Volunteer tax assistance available for St. Lucie County residents
Volunteer tax assistance available for St. Lucie County residents
Trained volunteers with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be providing free tax preparation assistance at three locations throughout St. Lucie County starting in February.
VITA sites offer free tax filing assistance to residents making less than $60,000 per year. Assistance will be offered at the following locations:
- St. Lucie County’s Family Success Center, 714 Ave. C, Fort Pierce: Feb. 6 through April 12.
- Incubate Neighborhood Center, 532 N. 13thSt., Fort Pierce: Feb. 4 through April 8.
- Indian River State College, Bldg. Y-Rm. 102, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce: Feb. 16, 23 and March 2, 9, 23. Closed March 16.
All locations are open for walk-ins only. Residents will be helped on a first-come; first-served basis. None of the locations will be taking appointments.
A list of potential paperwork that residents will need to bring to have their federal taxes prepared includes: Proof of identification, Social Security numbers, birth dates of family members, property tax bills, all income documents, including wage and earning statement(s) W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all employers; interest and dividend statements from banks (forms 1099-Div); a copy of last year’s federal and state returns (if available); health care expenses; donation receipts and bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit.
Volunteers at all the sites have been trained by the Internal Revenue Service. For more details about this program, visit: www.irs.gov.
For those who make more than $60,000, but less than $73,000 can prepare their own taxes using the “My Free Taxes” at the link www.myfreetaxes.com. Please call 211 for more information.
Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]
Treasure Coast Business News January 17, 2023
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