HB 141 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0141-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Regional Rural Development 2
Grants Program; amending s. 288.018, F.S.; removing 3
the requirement that certain grants received by a 4
regional economic development organization must be 5
matched in a certain manner; removing a provision 6
requiring a certain consideration; removing certain 7
demonstration requirements of program applicants; 8
providing an effective date. 9
10
Be It Enacted by the Legisla ture of the State of Florida: 11
12
Section 1. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1) 13
and subsection (2) of section 288.018, Florida Statutes, are 14
amended to read: 15
288.018 Regional Rural Development Grants Program. — 16
(1) 17
(b) The department shall establish a matching grant 18
program to provide funding to regional economic development 19
organizations for the purpose of building the professional 20
capacity of those organizations. Building the professional 21
capacity of a regional economic development organi zation 22
includes hiring professional staff to develop, deliver, and 23
provide needed economic development professional services, 24
including technical assistance, education and leadership 25
HB 141 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0141-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
development, marketing, and project recruitment. Matching Grants 26
may also be used by a regional economic development organization 27
to provide technical assistance to local governments, local 28
economic development organizations, and existing and prospective 29
businesses. 30
(c) A regional economic development organization may apply 31
annually to the department for a matching grant. The department 32
is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants to such 33
regional economic development organizations. The maximum amount 34
an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000, or 35
$250,000 for any three regional economic development 36
organizations that serve an entire region of a rural area of 37
opportunity designated pursuant to s. 288.0656(7) if they are 38
recognized by the department as serving such a region. 39
(d) Grant funds received by a r egional economic 40
development organization must be matched each year by nonstate 41
resources in an amount equal to 25 percent of the state 42
contribution. 43
(2) In approving the participants, the department shall 44
consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance 45
and require the following: 46
(a) Documentation of official commitments of support from 47
each of the units of local government represented by the 48
regional organization. 49
(b) Demonstration that each unit of local government has 50
HB 141 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0141-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
made a financial or in-kind commitment to the regional 51
organization. 52
(c) Demonstration that the private sector has made 53
financial or in-kind commitments to the regional organization. 54
(b)(d) Demonstration that the organization is in existence 55
and actively involved in economic development activities serving 56
the region. 57
(c)(e) Demonstration of the manner in which the 58
organization is or will coordinate its efforts with those of 59
other local and state organizations. 60
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 61