Citrus County is one of only eight communities across the State to be awarded a Competitive Florida Economic Development Project Grant.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) awarded $91,000 in grant awards to eight communities across the state to provide funding that assists local governments in pursuing specific economic development projects or supplementing existing projects.
“We are pleased to be working with our partners, the State of Florida’s DEO and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and welcome the opportunity to leverage those agencies’ resources to the benefit of our community and the citizens of Citrus County.” said Citrus County Board of County Commissioners Chairman, Ron Kitchen.
Citrus County received the $11,000 award to partner with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council to update Citrus County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan with a community assessment including an economic base analysis, gathering citizen input for desired development objectives, and combining the information into a report of recommend goals and strategies.
DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor, said, “DEO is committed to using our resources to help all Florida communities flourish. The Competitive Florida Economic Development Project grants offer valuable tools to help support communities in reaching their local economic development goals.”
Competitive Florida Economic Development Project Grants are available to all counties and municipalities to help communities learn more about local assets and economic conditions, and develop specific local projects. Grant awards range from $5,000 and $15,000.
The Competitive Florida Economic Development Project Grants for 2017-18 are:
* Broward County: $15,500
* Citrus County: $11,000
* City of Clewiston: $10,000
* City of Newberry: $11,000
* Green Cove Springs: $11,000
* Holmes County: $6,000
* Town of Hastings: $13,500
* Wakulla County: $13,000
The Competitive Florida Partnership is a two-year program that provides technical assistance and support to rural areas seeking to improve their communities through an asset-based economic development strategy.
The Competitive Florida Economic Development Project Grants are offered for communities that may already be undertaking economic development efforts and allows local governments to pursue a particular facet of the Competitive Florida model without obligating to the Competitive Florida Partnership.
For more details about the process and provisions of this facet of the Competitive Florida Partnership grant, visit the Competitive Florida Economic Development Project Grant.