TALLAHASSEE - More than $550,000 in Regional Rural Development Grants have helped 29 rural counties this year by engaging regional rural economic development organizations to assist with the development of stronger local economies. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Regional Rural Development Grants are competitively available to economic development organizations within Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC).

Governor Rick Scott said, “Since December 2010, Florida has added 600,400 private sector jobs. One way we will remain on this path of success is by continuing to invest in regional economic development organizations to grow the economies of rural areas in Florida. Attracting more businesses to these areas will help strengthen our opportunity economy and create jobs for Florida families throughout our great state.”

The Regional Rural Economic Development Grant program was established to encourage rural counties to leverage limited resources by utilizing regional economic development organizations. Eligible applicants include private organizations made up of three or more rural counties, which agree to cooperatively establish an economic development office.

“We are pleased that the Regional Rural Development Grant program is working in Florida’s rural communities to develop the strengths of the local economies and create an opportunity environment for every Floridian. Our efforts to attract job creators to these areas are making a difference for Florida families,” said DEO Executive Director Jesse Panuccio.

An organization may receive up to $35,000 a year, or $100,000 in a RACEC. Grants must be matched by an equivalent amount of non-state resources. Applicants must provide letters of support and documentation of financial or in-kind support from each partner listed on the application.

Over the last year, the following seven regional economic development organizations have received grants to aid rural communities to assist with leadership development, marketing activities, scholarships for local and economic development officials, provide technical assistance with responses to business leads, and complete regional community assessments.

Pure Water Wilderness
Award Amount: $35,000
Grant Term:  5/1/13 – 4/30/14       
Pure Water Wilderness is a regional economic development organization that represents Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties and aimed at increasing tourism in the area.

Riverway-South Apalachicola Choctawatchee, Inc.
Award Amount: $94,000
Grant Term:  7/1/13 – 6/30/14
This regional economic development organization represents eight of the nine counties in the Northwest Florida RACEC, including Franklin, Washington, Jackson, Holmes, Liberty, Gulf, Gadsden, and Calhoun counties.

Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance of Palm Beach County, Inc.
Award Amount: $35,000
Grant Term: 7/1/13 – 6/30/14  
LORE is a regional economic development organization that represents the Cities of Belle Glade, South Bay, and Pahokee.

Florida Heartland Regional Economic Development Initiative
Award Amount: $100,000
Grant Term:  1/1/14 – 12/31/14   
The regional economic development organization that represents the South Central RACEC, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Hardee, Highlands, Okeechobee counties, the Cities of Belle Glade and South Bay and the Community of Immokalee, focuses on economic development.

Original Florida Tourism Task Force
Award Amount: $94,000
Grant Term:  1/15/14 – 1/14/15
Original Florida Tourism Task Force is a regional economic development organization that represents Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Taylor, Union, and Wakulla counties.

Opportunity Florida
Award Amount: $94,000
Grant Term:  2/12/14 – 6/30/14
Opportunity Florida is a regional economic development organization that represents the North West Florida RACEC, comprised of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Homes, Jackson, Liberty, Wakulla, Washington counties, and the City of Freeport.

North Florida Economic Development Partnership
Award Amount: $100,000
Grant Term:  1/8/14 – 1/8/15
This regional economic development organization represents the North Central Florida RACEC, comprised of Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Putnam, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union counties.

For more information about the Rural Regional Development Grant program, visit We Are REDI. Grant cycles are continuous and available until funds are expended for the given year.