At the HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center’s latest event, audience members can enjoy a concert of all their favorite songs. Complete with back-up singers, costumes and snazzy dance moves, the performers will cover a variety of well known hits.
But, they won’t actually be singing the songs themselves — they will be lip synching.
The Sept. 13 event, aptly named Lip Synch, will benefit the Plant City Community Development Corporation.
The non-profit has been around since 2005. Since then, it’s assisted 23 low- to moderate-income families with its self help housing program. The Plant City CDC partners with the City of Plant City and the Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Department to develop and construct homes in Plant City and to implement the County’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Plant City and eastern Hillsborough County. Its housing program involves finding and qualifying low- to moderate-income individuals and families to build a new home or buy an existing home. The non-profit also assists first-time home buyers with SHIP, HOME and other down-payment assistance programs.
“A lot of times, they don’t think they can do it,” said Ernest Barefield, executive director for the non-profit.
The Plant City Community Development Corporation also has built 10 homes near Laura Street and on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Maryland Avenue.
“It’s important to help keep the program going,” Barefield said. “Most of the stuff we do is done with volunteers. We’re trying to do it with full-time staff.”
Besides the desire to work with full-time staff, the CDC has another plan for the money it will receive from the fundraiser. Currently, it’s working with students at Plant City Hillsborough Community College on a community planning project. There are four neighborhoods surrounding the historic downtown of Plant City. Many of these neighborhoods have fallen into disrepair. As part of the project, the group wants to identify which properties are vacant and find ways to transform them into livable properties.
“These places can’t be economically successful unless we help turn around these neighborhoods,” Barefield said.
This is the second year for the Lip Synch; the first took place in 2009. The performers are both professionals and volunteers who have been practicing for about three months.
“Come relax,” Barefield said. “It will be a bunch of fun.”
IF YOU GO
Lip Synch
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13
WHERE: HCC Plant City John R. Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road
TICKETS: $25. Call (813) 659-3100 or purchase at plantcitycdc.org. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the event.