feds looking at west tampa cdc
tommyHillsborough: W. Tampa nonprofit under investigation
Federal authorities have launched an investigation into a West Tampa nonprofit group whose mission is to improve the neighborhoods social and economic conditions…
In question are a $100,000 federal grant to improve storefronts and a $463,000 federal grant to build affordable houses, said Cyndy Miller, director of the city’s department of growth management and development services…
The city awarded the group $100,000 in 2005 to improve storefronts. The group was entitled to keep $20,000 for administration. But city officials said record keeping was so shoddy, they paid out only $14,077. Outside auditors questioned even that payment, saying there wasn’t adequate documentation to support it.
In addition, Tampa Police are looking into deals between developers and neighborhood groups:
City Council member Charlie Miranda thrust a spotlight on the CDC [in July] in a tirade against what he called “side deals” between developers and community groups. Miranda singled out arrangements between the CDC and developer Ken Morin. Morin offered two contracts worth $750, 000 to the CDC to fund affordable home building and rehabilitation programs after the agency objected that his developments didn’t include any affordable housing.
The West Tampa CDC has been under questionable leadership since the beginning.
The West Tampa Community Development Corporation’s mission is to improve the social and economic conditions of the area. [Board chairwoman Margaret] Fisher helped found the agency in 1999, two years after leaving the board of the Tampa Housing Authority, where she was criticized for voting in favor of $1-million worth of contracts for her brother without disclosing their relationship…
What do you know about the West Tampa CDC?
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