Summary:
In 2006, the CRA approved the Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program, which is a financial assistance program to retain existing minority-owned businesses within the blighted Parramore community of Downtown Orlando, and to attract new minority-owned businesses to this area.
The MEBA Program is administered by CRA staff, with oversight by the MEBA Advisory Board. According to the MEBA Program Guidelines, members of the MEBA Advisory Board are appointed at the direction of and subject to final approval by the CRA.
Since the inception of the MEBA Program, a representative of the Prospera (formerly the Hispanic Business Investment Fund (HBIF) has been a member of the MEBA Advisory Board.
In 2016, Ms. Karen Vergara was appointed the Prospera’s representative to the Board, however she recently departed the agency, leaving a vacancy in this role with the MEBA Advisory Board. Prospera recommends the appointment of Ms. Katia Medina to fill this seat on the MEBA Advisory Board. |