GTR HOSTED THE CHANGE AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH BREVARD. WITH APPROXIMATELY 400 IN ATTENDANCE, THE EVENT WAS HELD AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX AND RAISED $10,000 FOR GTR'S GENERAL FUNDS.IN APRIL 2016 GTR OPENED COLAUNCH, A COWORK SPACE IN TITUSVILLE. WITH GRANT MONEY RECEIVED FROM THE NORTH BREVARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE, GTR OPERATES AND MANAGES THE 3,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AND PROJECT PROGRAMS SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP.IN 2016 GTR WAS APPROACHED AND ACCEPTED TAKING OVER A 40+ YEAR OLD EVENT, THE INDIAN RIVER FESTIVAL. GTR PLANNED TO HOLD THE EVENT IN EARLY 2017.DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW, THE ART & ALGORITHMS FESTIVAL WAS POSTPONED FROM OCTOBER 2016 TO BE HELD IN JAN/FEB 2017.DURING 2016, GTR WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT TWO COMMUNITY YOUNG PROFESSIONAL LEADERS TO PARTICIPATE IN LEAD BREVARD PROGRAM BY OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS. GTR'S YOUTH ACADEMY PROJECT WAS ALSO CHOSEN AS ONE OF LEAD BREVARDS COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND IN THE FALL OF 2017 WILL LAUNCH THE GTR YOUTH ACADEMY PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN NORTH BREVARD. GTR CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH BREVARD THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT OFFER IMPROVEMENTS ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE. BY DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE ARTS AND CULTURAL EVENTS, CONDUCTING BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS ALONG OUR CORRIDORS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, SUPPORTING AND BUILDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATIONS, GTR IS ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CREATING A RENAISSANCE IN NORTH BREVARD.
IN 2015 GTR DEVELOPED A YOUTH INITIATIVE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAMS. BY PROVIDING A PLATFORM AND VOICE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE ENCOURAGING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IS ALL ABOUT EMPOWERING OUR MILLENNIALS POPULATION TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP POSITIONS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE RAISED OVER $20,000 FOR GTR. THIS WILL ALLOW GTR TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO COMMUNITY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEAD BREVARD LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. IN 2015 GTR BEGAN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A COWORK CENTER IN TITUSVILLE. THE COWORK CENTER PROVIDES A PLACE FOR ENTREPRENEURS, STARTUPS AND INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS TO WORK AND LEARN HOW TO START AND GROW A BUSINESS. THIS CENTER IS ANTICIPATED TO OPEN IN SPRING OF 2016.THE 3RD ANNUAL ART & ALGORITHMS DIGITAL ART FESTIVAL WAS HELD IN OCTOBER, 2015. THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL PROVIDED MORE INTERACTIVE, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO THE ATTENDEES TO EXPERIENCE. OVER 800 AREA SCHOOL STUDENTS VISITED THE FESTIVAL. THE ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE GREW FROM 2,500 IN 2014 TO OVER 8,000 IN 2015. MANY RETAILERS AND FOOD/DRINK ESTABLISHMENTS REPORTED INCREASE IN TRAFFIC AND SALES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENT IS TO DRAW TRAFFIC AND BUILD ON THE ECONOMY. NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GTR INCLUDE:* SPEARHEADING PROGRESS OF THE TITUS LANDING MULTI-USE RETAIL AND MEDICAL CENTER.* SUPPORTING OVER $1.2 BILLION IN COMMERCIAL INVESTMENTS.* CREATING NEW DIGITAL ARTS AND OTHER FESTIVALS UNIQUE TO NORTH BREVARD AND CENTRAL FLORIDA.* BUILDING AND ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP.* ENGAGING THOUSANDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY AWAKENING A RENAISSANCE IN NORTH BREVARD.
TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND CREATIVE GROWTH IN TITUSVILLE AND ENCOURGE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY