The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: SB 196
INTRODUCER: Senator Simon
SUBJECT: Regional Rural Development Grants Program
DATE: December 4, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Renner McKay CM Favorable
2. ATD
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 196 amends the Regional Rural Development Grants Program to:
Eliminate the rural matching requirement;
Eliminate the requirement that grant funds received by a regional economic development
organization must be matched each year by nonstate resources in an amount equal to 25
percent of the state contributions;
Remove the requirement that the Department of Commerce (DOC) consider the
demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance when approving participants for the
program; and
Remove the requirement that an applicant must show proof that each local government and
the private sector made a financial or in-kind commitment to the regional organization in
order to receive funding.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
II. Present Situation:
Regional Rural Development Grants Program
The Regional Rural Development Grants Program was established to provide funding, through
matching grants, to build the professional capacity of regionally based economic development
organizations located in rural communities. The concept of building the “professional capacity”
of an economic development organization includes hiring professional staff to develop, deliver,
and provide economic development professional services. Professional services includes
technical assistance, education and leadership development, marketing, and project recruitment.
1
1
Section 288.018(1)(b), F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 196 Page 2
Applications submitted to the Department of Commerce (DOC) for funding through this program
must provide proof:
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Of official commitments of support from each of the units of local government represented
by the regional organization;
That each local government has made a financial or in-kind commitments to the regional
organization;
That the private sector has made financial or in-kind commitment to the regional
organization;
That the regional organization is in existence and actively involved in economic development
activities serving the region; and
Of the manner in which the organization coordinates its efforts with those other local and
state organizations.
An organization may receive up to $50,000 a year or $250,000 if located in a rural area of
opportunity (RAO).
3
Grants must be matched by an amount of non-state resources equal to 25
percent of the state contribution. The DOC is authorized to spend up to $750,000 each fiscal year
from funds appropriated to the Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund to carry
out this program.
4
Rural Area of Opportunity
An RAO is a rural community,
5
or region comprised of rural communities, designated by the
Governor, that has been adversely affected by an extraordinary economic event, severe or
chronic distress, or a natural disaster.
6
An area may also be designated as an RAO if it presents a
unique economic development opportunity of regional impact. The designation of an RAO must
be agreed upon by the DOC, as well as the county and municipal governments to be included in
the RAO.
7
Based on recommendations of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI),
8
the
Governor may designate up to three RAOs by executive order.
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This designation establishes
these areas as priority assignments for REDI and allows the Governor, acting through REDI, to
waive criteria, requirements, or similar provisions of any economic development initiative.
Currently, there are three designated RAO areas:
2
Section 288.018(2), F.S.
3
Section 288.018(1)(c), F.S.
4
Section 288.018(4), F.S.
5
Section 288.0656(2)(e), F.S., defines a “rural community” as is any county with a population of 75,000 or fewer, any county
with a population of 125,000 or fewer that is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or fewer, a municipality in a
county that meets either of the aforementioned criteria, or an 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.
6
Section 288.0656(2)(d), F.S.
7
Section 288.0656(7)(b), F.S.
8
Section 288.0656(1)(a), F.S. REDI was established by the Legislature to encourage and facilitate the location and expansion
of major economic development projects of significant scale in rural communities.
9
Section 288.0656(7)(a), F.S. BILL: SB 196 Page 3
Northwest RAO: Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Wakulla,
and Washington counties, and portions of Walton County (the City of Freeport and lands
north of the Choctawhatchee Bay and intercoastal waterway).
South Central RAO: DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Okeechobee
counties, and the cities of Pahokee, Belle Glade, and South Bay in Palm Beach County
and the city of Immokalee in Collier County.
North Central RAO: Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson,
Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union counties.
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III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 288.018, F.S., to specify that funding provided under the Regional Rural
Development Grants Program are not matching grants. The bill eliminates the requirement that
grant funds received by a regional economic development organization must be matched each
year by nonstate resources in an amount equal to 25 percent of the state contributions. The bill
also removes the requirement that the DOC consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for
assistance when approving participants for the program. Lastly, the bill removes the requirement
that an applicant must show proof that each local government and the private sector made a
financial or in-kind commitment to the regional organization in order to receive funding.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
10
Department of Economic Opportunity, Rural Areas of Opportunity, available at https://floridajobs.org/community-
planning-and-development/rural-community-programs/rural-areas-of-opportunity (last visited November 15, 2023). The
economic development organizations for these RAOs are named Opportunity Florida, Florida’s Heartland Regional
Economic Development Initiative, and the North Florida Economic Development Partnership, respectively. BILL: SB 196 Page 4
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill does not affect state revenues or expenditures.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 288.018 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.