The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a rural development measure that would expand state funding and programs tied to transportation, housing, broadband and education in smaller and rural counties.
Senate Bill 250 (SB 250), sponsored by Republican Sen. Corey Simon, creates new state offices and grant programs intended to support infrastructure projects, local economic development and public services in areas that often have limited tax bases and staffing resources.
“Technology has drastically expanded the possibilities available within our growing economy. With the ability to work anywhere, more and more people are seeking out the time-honored way of life rural communities provide, while legacy residents who have lived in these communities for generations are excited for new opportunities that improve access to education and health care,” said Sen. Simon. “With the investments Rural Renaissance is making in our transportation and public service infrastructure, combined with an over $1 billion investment in rural health care made possible by President Trump, rural communities have an unprecedented opportunity to increase quality of life for generations to come.”
SB 250 would establish an Office of Rural Prosperity within the Florida Department of Commerce to provide technical assistance and planning support for rural local governments, including dedicated regional staff assigned to liaison centers across the state. The bill also updates the state’s Rural Economic Development Initiative framework.
The measure includes a new “Renaissance Grants” program that would provide $1 million block grants to each of seven counties that have lost population over the last decade: Gadsden, Hardee, Hamilton, Taylor, Jackson, Calhoun and Liberty. Under the proposal, grants would be awarded annually until a county records three consecutive years of population growth. Counties would be required to develop spending plans, and use of the funds would be audited.
The bill also revises Florida’s definition of “fiscally constrained counties,” increasing the property tax revenue threshold used to determine eligibility for certain types of state support. The threshold would rise from $5 million per 1 mill of property tax revenue to $10 million per 1 mill.
On housing, SB 250 increases the minimum allocation for counties under the State Housing Initiatives Partnership program from $350,000 to $1 million. The bill also sets aside funding for rehabilitation or acquisition of USDA-subsidized rental properties in rural areas, with the aim of preserving affordability as federal restrictions expire.
Transportation provisions include expanding the Rural Infrastructure Fund and increasing funding for the Rural Revolving Loan Program. The bill also creates the Florida Arterial Road Modernization program, which would direct additional money toward arterial road projects used primarily for “farm-to-market” transportation. The proposal shifts $30 million in documentary stamp revenues into the State Transportation Trust Fund for that purpose, on top of existing annual funding. It also increases funding for the Small County Road Assistance Program and creates a rural transit operating block grant program administered by the Florida Department of Transportation.
Education provisions increase per-member funding for regional education consortia serving rural districts and establish a rural educator student loan repayment program providing up to $15,000 over five years.
