WCR Business Luncheon presents John Sebree VP Public Policy FR

John Sebree on housing program & the “Support Homeownership For All” license plate

As of January 2010, more than 7,594 license plates have been sold, amounting to more than $189,500.
What the program is about
Proceeds from the sale of the license plate will be used exclusively for housing programs, says John Sebree, Florida Realtors® vice president of Public Policy. The goal is to provide housing assistance to teachers, nurses and others unable to afford a home.
How to buy the license plate
The Florida Realtors® specialty license plate is available online, by mail or at your county tax collector’s office.
The license plate costs an additional $25 (beyond the state’s fees for a tag). If you purchase the tag online, you’ll pay a convenience fee, which amounts to either $2 or 2.95% of the total cost of the tag.

How it all came together
The plan to help fund workforce housing projects started in 2005 with a contest to design the license plate. The winner, Melissa Bourke, 27, a graphic artist for the Naples-based John R. Wood Realtors, won $1000. Bourke’s artwork was chosen from among 275 entries. Her color scheme and graphic images inspired the Florida Realtors® art department to put the finishing touches on the license plate design. The design was then submitted to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Next, the bill needed sponsorship from legislators before it could become law. State Rep. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, and Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, led the rally. And in July 2006, Gov. Bush enthusiastically signed the bill into law.

“I am so proud that Florida Realtors® have taken the lead in providing a creative solution to the attainable workforce housing crisis,” says John Sebree, Florida Realtors® vice president of public policy. “We hope the ‘Support Homeownership For All’ license plate will break all previous specialty license plate sales in our state.”

© 2010 Florida Realtors®

Grandezza
Sponsor: Miromar Design Center