Executive Office of the Govenor - Office of Urban Opportunity
Governor Jeb Bush established the Front Porch Florida Initiative as a grass roots, bottom-up approach to community revitalization. The Initiative focuses on the family and empowers resident to define and resolve neighborhood problems.

Front Porch Florida is a gateway to economic and social empowerment for Florida communities. Front Porch helps communities find innovative solutions to everyday problems. The Governor’s office and state agencies provide assistance to the neighborhoods. Leading to the way to improve Florida’s neighborhoods is Executive Office of the Governor, Office of Urban Opportunity, Tallahassee, Florida. The Front Porch Florida Initiative seeks to advance an urban policy that will release the power of local communities in Florida’s urban cores to rebuild their neighborhoods through a redevelopment process that is neighborhood driven, asset-based and focused on community relationships. Within these urban communities, the initiative seeks to improve schools, reduce crime, increase economic opportunities and provide adequate infrastructure and affordable housing opportunities. In doing so, it will create environments that foster strong families and vital communities. Residents will be empowered to define the problems in their communities and develop solutions that will result in positive change.



Office of Urban Opportunity's Mission Statements:
  • To encourage, assist, and support Florida’s urban and rural citizens in their effort to preserve core neighborhood values and to assist them in identifying and strengthening their existing community assets.
  • To foster an atmosphere of cooperation and understanding in neighborhoods, which empowers neighbors to create an oasis of hope for positive change within their communities through committed local activism.
  • To work as a switchboard and ambassador of support by uniting individuals, neighborhoods, and resources as cooperating partners with a common goal of re-claiming Florida’s communities.
  • Assist in promoting neighborhoods that have successfully revitalized themselves, as role models of what all Florida urban communities can aspire to become.

 

 

GOALS:

 
  • Establish Front Porch Communities across Florida. These are specialized communities that will share a vision with all key players that make a healthy community. This unique relationship of residents, government, and service providers will develop new ways to resolve community improvement issues.
  • Have each community develop a specialized and detailed Neighborhood Action Plan that will serve as a blueprint to all key players on what the community needs are and how they would like to implement those changes. It is through this document that residents will be empowered to define the problems specific to their community and develop the solutions that will result in change.
  • Manage Front Porch Florida funds necessary to supplement the implementation of the Neighborhood Action Plan.
  • Connect the Front Porch Communities with federal and state funding, other agencies and departments, and private and not-for-profit resources necessary to implement the Neighborhood Action Plan.
    Simplify administration, create strategic alliances and networks of community collaboration, and develop and forge better relationships between Front Porch Communities and other community, corporate and faith-based organizations.

    In summary, the Office of Urban Opportunity was established to administer the Front Porch Florida Initiative. The communities under its direction will be assisted to reach their goals and bring others to their aid. All participants, including residents, must be willing to commit to cooperation, accountability, and positive communication preserves the assets of the community for future enjoyment.