We Are Here For Your Hollywood Business
The City of Hollywood’s Office of Communications, Marketing & Economic Development (CMED) is open for business, compiling information to assist Hollywood businesses throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to check the City of Hollywood’s webpage, sign up for City and Business email/text updates, and follow us on Facebook. Our team is available to talk you through any of your business-related issues. Contact us at 954.921.3620 or by email.
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The City of Hollywood, along with OIC of South Florida, is offering Work Skills Training Scholarships for its residents. Each 11-week course provides FREE in-depth vocational training, preparing participants for entry-level jobs in selected career paths. For more information and to apply, please click here.
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Free Business Assistance Programs For City Residents And Business Owners
The City of Hollywood’s Office of Communications, Marketing + Economic Development has recently entered into a partnership with Broward SCORE to provide educational and advisory services to City residents and small business owners through December 2021.
This partnership is a part of the City’s “Backing Business” initiative, as these supportive programs aim to help the City’s economy grow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources available to the City’s start-up and small business community include:
| Advanced Business Solutions Team: Broward SCORE provides a team of seasoned business specialists to help your existing small businesses identify growth opportunities, solve problems, and plan for the future. Through a series of meetings, the Advanced Business Solutions Team works with your management team to devise a plan for achieving your objectives.
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| One-on-One Business Mentoring: Broward SCORE offers personal remote mentoring sessions with local seasoned business professionals who are committed to helping our local business community stronger through these difficult times. Book your phone or video mentoring session online. Sessions are typically one-hour in length. Prepare to discuss any opportunities or problems your business may be facing. |
 | Business Education Program: Workshops on a diversity of business topics are scheduled throughout the remainder of the year and will be offered virtually utilizing a live webinar format. Many of the webinars will focus on pandemic recovery topics and led by local business professionals with specific knowledge on starting and running businesses in Broward County and the City of Hollywood. |
Founded in 1964, Broward SCORE is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) with over 70 volunteer mentors, workshop presenters, and business support personnel. The chapter offers a diverse program of business support services throughout the year and is provided at no-cost to start-ups, existing businesses, or those who are thinking of starting a business. More information on these exciting new programs can be found here: https://broward.score.org/city-hollywood-cmed
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Missed our Virtual Open House?
Click here to watch the recording and learn about all of the FREE resources available to your Hollywood business.
Password: OpenHouse2021
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Information About the Application Portal
Registration for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) will begin Friday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. EDT and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will begin accepting applications via the application portal on Monday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The application portal will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted.
For more information, read the press release here.
How to Prepare
In preparation, qualifying applicants should familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application. Follow the steps below.
- Register for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting Friday, April 30 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the application portal.
- Review the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart on SBA COVID-19 relief options.
- Attend one of the webinar trainings listed below. These will be recorded and later posted on SBA's YouTube channel.
On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the nine SBA District Offices located across the Southeast Region will host a presentation and Q & A on RRF. These informational sessions are designed to get you prepared to apply for this new “grant” fund prior to the application going live. You are invited to select any timeframe that works best for your schedule.
Please click on the link at the time of the event. No registration is required.
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$20B Available in EIDL Grants
The Small Business Administration (SBA)'s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program portal is open and accepting applications. Congress has allocated a total of $20 billion in new Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants specifically for businesses in low-income communities.
Businesses experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 and wishing to apply for this program are encouraged to complete the online EIDL application as soon as possible.
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Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Portal Is Now Open For Applications
All participating PPP lenders are now able to submit both 1st & 2nd draw loan applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Contact your financial institution to verify if it is an SBA-approved PPP lender and if it is currently accepting PPP applications.
Limited Eligibility for Second Round PPP Loans
- Available to first-time qualified borrowers
- Available to borrowers that previously received a PPP loan
- Second-time borrowers must have 300 or fewer employees, and before applying for forgiveness, borrowers must prove that they saw a 25% reduction in gross receipts during a quarter in 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019.
Maximum Loan Amount
The maximum loan amount in the second round is $2 million. Click here to learn how to calculate maximum loan amounts according to each business type.
Maximum Loan Amounts for the Hospitality Industry
Borrowers that have NAICS Code 72 (typically restaurants and hotels) are permitted to use a 3.5x multiplier of their average monthly payroll costs to calculate their maximum loan amount, subject to the $2 million cap.
Use of PPP Funds
Congress expanded the types of expenses for which PPP loans can be used, which applies to existing PPP loans (except in the event forgiveness has already been obtained) and new loans. At least 60% of the funds should be used for payroll costs, and up to 40% may be spent on operating costs such as rent, covered mortgage interest and utilities, as well as newly approved expenses:
- Covered Operations Expenditures
- Covered Property Damage Costs
- Covered Supplier Costs
- Covered Worker Protection Expenditures
PPP Forgiveness
As a reminder, PPP loans are designed to be 100% forgivable if the proceeds are spent in accordance with program rules. Additional Paycheck Protection Program Round 2 highlights and immediate information can be found in the National Law Review.
How To Apply
As during the initial round of PPP loans in 2020, the Small Business Administation (SBA) will not accept PPP applications directly from small businesses during the current 2021 round — you must apply through a participating financial institution (click here for a list). The application deadline for this program has been extended to May 31, 2021.
SBA and Treasury Announce Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
The Treasury and SBA have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly. On October 2, the SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers.
Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application.
Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.
Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.
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Small Businesses: Apply today for monthly bill credit as part of FPL’s Main Street Recovery Credit Program
FPL is now accepting applications for the Main Street Recovery Credit Program, which expands their COVID-19 relief effort by offering bill credits to qualifying small and independent businesses.
Establishments in FPL’s service area that are eligible to apply for the program include:
- New small businesses
- Small businesses that were inactive for at least six consecutive months after March 2020
- Existing small businesses operating in federally designated Opportunity Zones
Qualifying small businesses would receive a monthly 10% credit based on the prior month’s energy charge portion of their bill through 2021. Small business customers can click here to fill out an application and seek approval for the new program.
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The South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) has secured funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to capitalize a small business revolving loan fund for businesses adversely impacted by Coronavirus. These funds, provided pursuant to the March 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), will be administered by the SFRPC through its Revolving Loan Fund CARES Act Program.
$5,380,000 is available for businesses. Click here to learn more and apply.
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Business Leaders: Share Your Thoughts! What is your business struggling with?
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance (GFLA) has been compiling data from decision makers throughout Broward County for the last nine years. They want to hear your feedback about our county's business environment, including your biggest opportunities and challenges, and how you are meeting them.
The survey results will provide a real assessment of the current economic climate and what you see coming in the next year. GFLA will compare the results to previous years and share the findings.
All responses are kept confidential and tabulated by the independent accounting firm Kaufman Rossin. Participants will be entered to win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards.
Take the 10th Annual Survey Here
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Sea Turtle Nesting Season Has Begun
Beach Businesses & Residents: Ensure That Lighting Is "Sea Turtle-Friendly"
The official start of sea turtle nesting season in Broward County has officially begun. Last year, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program documented more than 3,000 nests on the County’s 24-mile coastline, including the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Hollywood. Three species of sea turtles typically nest on Broward’s beaches each season: leatherbacks, loggerheads and green turtles. While long-term trends suggest increases in local nesting populations, artificial lighting remains one of the biggest threats to sea turtles in southeast Florida.
Hatchlings use natural light from the moon and stars to locate the water after hatching, but artificial lighting near the beach can disrupt this sea-finding process and cause turtles to become “disoriented” or confused. To reduce the amount of artificial lighting reaching the beach in Broward County, local coastal municipalities enforce lighting ordinances during sea turtle nesting season (March 1-October 31). Lighting near the beach should be “sea turtle-friendly” and follow all three criteria below, established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):
- Keep it low: Fixtures should be mounted as low as possible to achieve their purpose. Fixtures/bulbs should produce the lowest lumens (light output) necessary for the task.
- Keep it shielded: The bulb, lamp, or glowing lens should be shielded from the beach. This includes interior lights, curtains, shades, and blinds should be closed after sunset.
- Keep it long (wavelength): Fixtures/bulbs must produce long wavelength light (560 nm or longer) without filters, gels or lenses. Amber and red LEDs are good examples of these types of light.
Interior lights can also cause sea turtles to become disoriented. Implement these tips to reduce the amount of light reaching the beach from interior sources:
- Close curtains or blinds after sunset.
- Move light sources away from windows.
- Choose low wattage, warm white bulbs such as those with a color temperature of 3000K.
- Use fixtures with shades instead of exposed bulbs.
- Apply window tint of 15% inside to outside light transmittance.
FWC provides a list of certified fixtures that can be safely installed near sea turtle nesting beaches. Alternatively, you can contact the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program for assistance with light retrofitting or additional information.
For turtle nesting updates throughout the season and other environmental news, follow @BrowardCountyEnvironment on Facebook and @BrowardEnv on Twitter.
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LauderDeals Is Back... and Better Than Ever!
LauderDeals are special savings for visitors and residents on hotels, spas, dining, and things to do during the summer and beyond. Updated and expanded from last year, LauderDeals invites you to promote your seasonal offers with Visit Lauderdale. There is no registration fee to participate and no gift certificates are required.
Categories include:
- Hotel Deals (June through September)
- Things To Do (June through September)
- DineOut Lauderdale (August and September)
- Spa Days (August and September)
- And year-round promos like FLorida Resident, Military & First Responder, Cruise Deals, Travel Advisor Perks and more
Benefits for participants include:
- Advertising campaign drives consumers to the LauderDeals web pages where your free deals listing is displayed.
- Public relations campaign focused on generating high impact stories in major media outlets.
- Targeted social media campaign.
- Inclusion in consumer e-newsletter to CVB opted-in database.
- Dedicated listing on sunny.org.
- Direct link to your website.
What is the deadline to sign up?
- Hotel Deals and Things to Do Deals: Sign up by April 16
- Dine Out Lauderdale and Spa Days: Sign up by June 25
How can your business participate in LauderDeals?
- View the presentation here
- Watch the informational webinar here
- Submit your LauderDeals here
Your LauderDeals will help make Greater Fort Lauderdale the preferred choice, offering unrivaled value and enticing visitors like never before!
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Safe & Clean Pledge: Show Your Commitment to Safely Welcoming Visitors
As Florida is currently among the top states for COVID-19 cases, and cases nationwide are rising, we need to reinforce and showcase that our entire community has a united front to proactively mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and that we are a safe and welcoming destination for all to enjoy.
Thank you to those of you who have taken the Visit Lauderdale Safe & Clean Pledge! More than 350 businesses have taken the pledge. Together we are instilling confidence among residents and travelers that we are committed to their safety and well-being.
If you haven’t already done so, please consider taking the Visit Lauderdale Safe & Clean Pledge today at sunny.org/pledge. Registration takes very little time, and it is FREE. Taking the pledge aligns with CDC recommended guidelines, and your business will be promoted as part of Visit Lauderdale’s marketing efforts on the program.
Upon taking the pledge, you are invited to display the destination’s clearly stated Safe & Clean protocols. You will receive:
• A downloadable Safe & Clean pledge to print and display
• A physical poster delivered to place of business to display
• The Safe & Clean logo will be added to your listing on sunny.org
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE PLEDGE NOW
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Public Dashboard Tracks Local COVID-19 Business Complaints
Residents Can See If Businesses Are Following Emergency Guidelines
Broward County has launched a new tool to help residents ensure they are doing everything they can to contribute to a safer, healthier community and stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Broward County’s Planning and Development Management Division has announced a public-facing dashboard of COVID-19 complaints about businesses not following sanitation, social distancing, facial covering and other reopening requirements contained in local Emergency Orders. The GIS-based website displays details about business complaints received, including:
- Name and location of businesses reported to be in violation
- Number and type of warnings and citations issued
- Complaint Outcomes (i.e. Warning Issued, Citation Issued, Resolved, or Pending Inspection)
The database is searchable by Commission District, and by municipality, making it easy for residents to find out if a business they plan on patronizing is observing all the requirements of the Emergency Orders.
According to the dashboard, the most common type of violation is Failure to Follow Social Distancing. Other types of violations include Not Approved to Reopen, Not Following Sanitation Requirements; Not Following Appointment Guidelines, and Allowing More than 50% Indoor Capacity.
Residents are encouraged to bookmark the dashboard at http://arcg.is/1riWfH and visit it frequently for updates in your area.
Residents are reminded, especially over the holiday weekend, to celebrate responsibly. Follow social distancing and facial covering guidelines whenever and wherever possible, even at family gatherings. If you observe that a business is not following the preventive guidelines, you can report it anonymously online at MyBroward.Broward.org, or call 311.
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Due to the anticipated increase in visitors to Hollywood Beach and pedestrian traffic on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk during the Spring Break season, the City of Hollywood has modified the Temporary Café Zone. Effective immediately, the distance between the Café Zone area for tables, chairs, etc. and the bike lane will increase to TEN FEET.
We appreciate your cooperation and compliance with these safety measures to protect visitors to the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk and patrons of Hollywood Beach businesses.
In an effort to assist Hollywood businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19 safety measures, the City of Hollywood designated a Temporary Café Zone along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. This Temporary Café Zone provides businesses, that comply with all program requirements, the opportunity to expand their dining areas onto the Broadwalk to allow for additional seating while keeping 6 feet between parties. The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk Temporary Café Zone operates from Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. to Sundays at 11:00 p.m.
The purpose of the Temporary Café Zone expansion is to back the City’s restaurant businesses that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 mitigation measures, and provide these businesses with the opportunity to expand their dining areas using outdoor spaces. The use of Temporary Café Zones requires restaurants to register online, which includes submitting a registration form with supporting documents (indemnification form and proof of insurance), along with other requirements.
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Vacation Rental Changes Are Now In Effect
The City's new changes to the Vacation Rental License Program Ordinance are now in effect. These changes apply to all City properties which currently have a Vacation Rental License, as well as those property owners who are currently using their property as a vacation rental.
To assist property owners with meeting compliance deadlines, the City hosted multiple virtual question and answer sessions in February and March 2021. Staff was on-hand to answer questions related to the vacation rental license program, licensure, inspections requirements and more. You can watch the meeting videos by clicking the links below.
Tuesday, February 23 • 11:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. • Watch the recording
Tuesday, February 23 • 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. • Watch the recording
Monday, March 15 • 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. • Watch the recording
Monday, March 29 • 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. • Watch the recording
For more information on the new rules, click here to visit the Vacation Rental License Program webpage. For additional assistance, please contact the Office of Treasury via email at vrl@hollywoodfl.org.
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Upcoming BrowardUP Programming
In addition to Broward College's popular health science courses, BrowardUP is pleased to be offering upcoming remote/online classes in the following areas:
- AWS Cloud Computing
- Project Management
- Process Improvement
- Front Desk Representative
- Supply Chain Customer Service Operations
- And More!
New courses are continually being added. Visit the BrowardUP website today!
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BrowardUP Rapid Credentials Programs
All programs are FREE and take under one year to complete • Eligible students will receive free laptops!
Click here to learn more and apply: BROWARD.EDU/RAPIDS
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Reemployment Assistance - Application Guide
(formerly Unemployment Compensation)
Reemployment Assistance benefits (formerly Unemployment Compensation) are available to Floridians whose employment has been negatively impacted as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and is available for workers who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. In Florida, a maximum of $275 a week is typically available for a maximum of 26 weeks. The CARES Act has provided for $600 a week for a maximum of 16 weeks in additional assistance and made other modifications due to the current pandemic.
According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, if you were denied benefits or if you applied on or before April 4, you should reapply online at www.FloridaJobs.org (regardless of whether you have received a response from the department). This includes gig workers, independent contractors, the self-employed, people who just moved to Florida, or almost anyone else who wouldn’t normally be eligible for state benefits.
If you applied on or after April 5, the state will already be able to process your claim.
Please click here for the City of Hollywood’s Reemployment Assistance Application Guide, which is a step-by-step guide on how to complete and submit the online application. In addition to applying online from a computer or mobile device, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is now accepting paper applications for Reemployment Assistance claims (available in English, Spanish and Creole). Here are three ways to obtain a paper application to mail in:
A) Download an application here and mail it to: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, P.O. Box 5350, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350.
B) FedEx is now offering free printing and mailing of Reemployment Assistance paper applications at over 100 storefronts across the state. Click here to find your nearest FedEx store location.
C) Pick up a paper application from a CareerSource Broward career center below, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Once you have completed your paper application, please mail it to: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, P.O. Box 5350, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350.
- 7550 Davie Road Extension, Hollywood, 33024
- 2610 West Oakland Park Blvd, Oakland Park, 33311
- 4941 Coconut Creek Pkwy, Coconut Creek, 33063
PIN Trouble When Applying For Reemployment Assistance
If you are unable to reset your PIN online:
- Call the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for assistance: 1-800-297-0586
- CareerSource Broward is now doing PIN resets for Reemployment Assistance (RA) customers in order to assist DEO with the overflow of PIN reset requests. Click here, scroll down to the “Get Help With Resetting Your CONNECT PIN” section, and click on the “Submit PIN Reset Request” button. This puts your name on a list so your PIN can be reset by CareerSource Broward staff.
Please note that in some cases, individuals may need to authenticate their identity. To do this, you will need to send a copy of your driver license and social security card to DEO:
- OR -
Still have questions regarding Reemployment Assistance? Check out the FAQ page on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website.
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The City of Hollywood urges its business community to evaluate the Short-Time Compensation Program in an effort to curtail major layoffs.
The Short-Time Compensation program helps employers retain their workforce in times of temporary slowdown by encouraging work sharing as an alternative to layoff. The program permits prorated reemployment assistance benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a Short-Time Compensation Plan to avoid total layoff of some employees. Apply here.
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Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Program
Currently, the DEO is not accepting applications for the Emergency Bridge Loan Program. If you have previously applied, check your application status below.
View Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan
Frequently Asked Questions
Check Application Status
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and its emergency bridge loan partners will continue to review applications that are received online or postmarked by Monday, April 13, 2020. DEO and its Emergency Bridge Loan partners will continue to quickly and efficiently process loans for Florida businesses affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19 until available funds are expended.
For questions regarding the loan program, please contact DEO toll-free at 833-832-4494 or email FloridaBusinessLoanFund@deo.myflorida.com.
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Has COVID-19 affected your business? Take this survey to help activate additional resources.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued the Business Damage Assessment Survey to evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy. The survey’s feedback allows the State Government to fully assess the economic impact COVID-19 is having on Florida businesses and industries, in order to mobilize the appropriate resources to help alleviate those pressures. The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online. Results will be shared with government agencies and local partners, including the Small Business Administration (SBA). For inquiries/assistance with the survey, contact ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
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Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Upcoming GHCC Programs & Content: Webinars and online classes, provided by GHCC members and experts, can be viewed here.
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Hospitality Industry Resources
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has compiled resources to assist the hospitality industry affected by COVID-19.
Attractions, tours, restaurants and any tourism business providing virtual tours, learning experiences, cooking demonstrations, entertainment, musical performances, etc. through videos or social media live streams, may fill out this form to be included in the Virtual Vacation Experiences page.
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Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Businesses can request a virtual meeting with the Alliance regarding business preservation assistance, including low- or no-interest loan opportunities and short time compensation for employers. Additionally, the Alliance has compiled business resources here.
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Additional Online Resources
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Links to these established programs can be found on the City’s Economic Development website. Please continue to monitor www.hollywoodfl.org and www.choosehollywoodfl.com for the latest updates.
Economic Development Division
Raelin Storey, CMED Director
Herb Conde-Parlato, Economic Development Manager
Tekisha Jordan, Principal Planner
Marina Melo, Economic Development Marketing Coordinator
Community Redevelopment Agency - Beach & Downtown Districts
Jorge Camejo, Executive Director
954.924.2980