eLaws of Florida

  SECTION 288.0656. Rural Economic Development Initiative.  


Latest version.
  • 1(1)(a) 2Recognizing that rural communities and regions continue to face extraordinary challenges in their efforts to significantly improve their economies, specifically in terms of personal income, job creation, average wages, and strong tax bases, it is the intent of the Legislature to encourage and facilitate the location and expansion of major economic development projects of significant scale in such rural communities.
    62(b) 63The Rural Economic Development Initiative, known as “REDI,” is created within the department, and the participation of state and regional agencies in this initiative is authorized.
    90(2) 91As used in this section, the term:
    98(a) 99“Catalyst project” means a business locating or expanding in a rural area of opportunity to serve as an economic generator of regional significance for the growth of a regional target industry cluster. The project must provide capital investment on a scale significant enough to affect the entire region and result in the development of high-wage and high-skill jobs.
    157(b) 158“Catalyst site” means a parcel or parcels of land within a rural area of opportunity that has been prioritized as a geographic site for economic development through partnerships with state, regional, and local organizations. The site must be reviewed by REDI and approved by the department for the purposes of locating a catalyst project.
    212(c) 213“Economic distress” means conditions affecting the fiscal and economic viability of a rural community, including such factors as low per capita income, low per capita taxable values, high unemployment, high underemployment, low weekly earned wages compared to the state average, low housing values compared to the state average, high percentages of the population receiving public assistance, high poverty levels compared to the state average, and a lack of year-round stable employment opportunities.
    285(d) 286“Rural area of opportunity” means a rural community, or a region composed of rural communities, designated by the Governor, which has been adversely affected by an extraordinary economic event, severe or chronic distress, or a natural disaster or that presents a unique economic development opportunity of regional impact.
    334(e) 335“Rural community” means:
    3381. 339A county with a population of 75,000 or fewer.
    3492. 350A county with a population of 125,000 or fewer which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or fewer.
    3743. 375A municipality within a county described in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2.
    3874. 388An unincorporated federal enterprise community or an incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or fewer and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural or resource-based industries, located in a county not defined as rural, which has at least three or more of the economic distress factors identified in paragraph (c) and verified by the department.

    446For purposes of this paragraph, population shall be determined in accordance with the most recent official estimate pursuant to s. 466186.901467.

    468(3) 469REDI shall be responsible for coordinating and focusing the efforts and resources of state and regional agencies on the problems which affect the fiscal, economic, and community viability of Florida’s economically distressed rural communities, working with local governments, community-based organizations, and private organizations that have an interest in the growth and development of these communities to find ways to balance environmental and growth management issues with local needs.
    537(4) 538REDI shall review and evaluate the impact of statutes and rules on rural communities and shall work to minimize any adverse impact and undertake outreach and capacity-building efforts.
    566(5) 567REDI shall facilitate better access to state resources by promoting direct access and referrals to appropriate state and regional agencies and statewide organizations. REDI may undertake outreach, capacity-building, and other advocacy efforts to improve conditions in rural communities. These activities may include sponsorship of conferences and achievement awards.
    615(6)(a) 616By August 1 of each year, the head of each of the following agencies and organizations shall designate a deputy secretary or higher-level staff person from within the agency or organization to serve as the REDI representative for the agency or organization:
    6581. 659The Department of Transportation.
    6632. 664The Department of Environmental Protection.
    6693. 670The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
    6774. 678The Department of State.
    6825. 683The Department of Health.
    6876. 688The Department of Children and Families.
    6947. 695The Department of Corrections.
    6998. 700The Department of Education.
    7049. 705The Department of Juvenile Justice.
    71010. 711The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
    71711. 718Each water management district.
    72212. 723Enterprise Florida, Inc.
    72613. 727CareerSource Florida, Inc.
    73014. 731VISIT Florida.
    73315. 734The Florida Regional Planning Council Association.
    74016. 741The Agency for Health Care Administration.
    74717. 748The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).

    756An alternate for each designee shall also be chosen, and the names of the designees and alternates shall be sent to the executive director of the department.

    783(b) 784Each REDI representative must have comprehensive knowledge of his or her agency’s functions, both regulatory and service in nature, and of the state’s economic goals, policies, and programs. This person shall be the primary point of contact for his or her agency with REDI on issues and projects relating to economically distressed rural communities and with regard to expediting project review, shall ensure a prompt effective response to problems arising with regard to rural issues, and shall work closely with the other REDI representatives in the identification of opportunities for preferential awards of program funds and allowances and waiver of program requirements when necessary to encourage and facilitate long-term private capital investment and job creation.
    899(c) 900The REDI representatives shall work with REDI in the review and evaluation of statutes and rules for adverse impact on rural communities and the development of alternative proposals to mitigate that impact.
    932(d) 933Each REDI representative shall be responsible for ensuring that each district office or facility of his or her agency is informed about the Rural Economic Development Initiative and for providing assistance throughout the agency in the implementation of REDI activities.
    973(7)(a) 974REDI may recommend to the Governor up to three rural areas of opportunity. The Governor may by executive order designate up to three rural areas of opportunity which will establish these areas as priority assignments for REDI as well as to allow the Governor, acting through REDI, to waive criteria, requirements, or similar provisions of any economic development incentive. Such incentives shall include, but are not limited to, the Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program under s. 1051288.106, 1052the Quick Response Training Program under s. 1059288.047, 1060the Quick Response Training Program for participants in the welfare transition program under s. 1074288.047(8), 1075transportation projects under s. 1079339.2821, 1080the brownfield redevelopment bonus refund under s. 1087288.107, 1088and the rural job tax credit program under ss. 1097212.098 1098and 1099220.18951100.
    1101(b) 1102Designation as a rural area of opportunity under this subsection shall be contingent upon the execution of a memorandum of agreement among the department; the governing body of the county; and the governing bodies of any municipalities to be included within a rural area of opportunity. Such agreement shall specify the terms and conditions of the designation, including, but not limited to, the duties and responsibilities of the county and any participating municipalities to take actions designed to facilitate the retention and expansion of existing businesses in the area, as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the area.
    1202(c) 1203Each rural area of opportunity may designate catalyst projects, provided that each catalyst project is specifically recommended by REDI, identified as a catalyst project by Enterprise Florida, Inc., and confirmed as a catalyst project by the department. All state agencies and departments shall use all available tools and resources to the extent permissible by law to promote the creation and development of each catalyst project and the development of catalyst sites.
    1274(8) 1275REDI shall submit a report to the department on all REDI activities for the previous fiscal year as a supplement to the department’s annual report required under s. 130320.601304. This supplementary report must include:
    1310(a) 1311A status report on all projects currently being coordinated through REDI, the number of preferential awards and allowances made pursuant to this section, the dollar amount of such awards, and the names of the recipients.
    1346(b) 1347A description of all waivers of program requirements granted.
    1356(c) 1357Information as to the economic impact of the projects coordinated by REDI.
    1369(d) 1370Recommendations based on the review and evaluation of statutes and rules having an adverse impact on rural communities and proposals to mitigate such adverse impacts.
History.-s. 97, ch. 99-251; s. 79, ch. 2000-165; s. 12, ch. 2001-201; s. 13, ch. 2009-51; s. 51, ch. 2010-5; s. 143, ch. 2011-142; s. 2, ch. 2012-128; s. 13, ch. 2013-39; s. 13, ch. 2013-42; s. 54, ch. 2014-19; s. 33, ch. 2014-218; s. 6, ch. 2015-98.

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