A Bradenton Visionary Looks Back

As the nation celebrates the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a part of east Bradenton is looking at the departure of a local visionary leader who focused on people as the key to economic development.

Sherod Halliburton is leaving.

He’s stepping down as director of the Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA). He is not going far, taking up the job of executive vice president of business development for the Manatee Community Federal Credit Union.

“He started in 2004, and there were a lot of naysayers,” recalls Mireaya Eavey, executive director of Career Edge. “He never gave up.”

Halliburton was charged with fighting neglect and blight, mostly east of U.S. 41. Unlike virtually every other community redevelopment agency in Florida, he focused on human development and not the physical infrastructure.

“I stressed the importance of financial health, and not brick and mortar projects,” he told Patch. “We focused on the economic development of people.”

Halliburton was instrumental in the creation of two “stepping stones” for people in his area of responsibility. The first was workforce development with a collaboration he co-founded called Career Edge.

“The Knight Foundation seeded $1 million to put together a workforce initiative,” Eavey recalled. “With the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, he spearheaded the CCRA as the operational leader.”

Career Edge is a continuing collaboration of funders, employers and workers to prepare low-wage workers for skilled positions in healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and technology.

“We emphasize career laddering,” said Eavey. “And we’ve trained 1,100 incumbent workers to raise their skills. We’ve assisted 237 people to find employment, and saved 177 area jobs.”

“Sherod is a visionary,” she said. “He never gave up. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. I’m sad to see him go.”

In addition to a focus on improving skills, Halliburton looked at smaller issues. For example, he arranged free income tax preparation in cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons.

They emphasized a number of tax provisions, like the earned income tax credit designed for working families, and brought $312,977 in refunds back into the community. “If people don’t control their financial circumstances, they don’t control their lives,” he said.

Halliburton did not ignore conventional brick-and-mortar improvements. In 2010 the first two phases of Norma Lloyd Park were completed, including a new playground and lighted multi-purpose soccer field, refurbished baseball fields, basketball courts, trails, a walking bridge connecting both sides of the park, exercise stations and the 13th Avenue “Dream Center” with a gymnasium, classrooms and an art technology center.

It would not have been possible without the help of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Home Depot and Kaboom! “We embraced a strategy of partnership and cooperation,” said Halliburton.

The second “stepping stone” of Halliburton’s outreach was created in 2009 when his CCRA founded the non-profit Suncoast Community Capital Corporation. It makes loans to help people create a business. Mike Kennedy is its director. And again, it is a collaborative partnership with the Manatee Community Action Agency and the Manatee Community Federal Credit Union.

“We empower people to achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship,” said Kennedy. “Working with Sherod is a privilege. He is passionate about improving the community.”

By helping people to develop a business plan, and then providing seed money to get started, the Suncoast Community Capital Corporation works with new and existing entrepreneurs. “We promote financial literacy, and credit-building,” said Kennedy.

“At the end of the day, we’ve created a synergy of services,” said Halliburton. “My initial challenge was the physical improvement of this district. But the redevelopment world is changing.”

The change was reflected last year when Halliburton and the CCRA won the Florida Redevelopment Association’s President’s Award – it’s highest honor. While the other awards went to brick-and-mortar projects, Bradenton’s CCRA was uniquely honored for its focus on human skills and achievements. 

“I love my job at the Central CRA. Many were surprised when I announced I was leaving,” he said. “I remain excited about helping people reclaim their lives.”