Rural Renaissance Bill
03/13/2025
The document is a memorandum from Senator Ben Albritton to all Senators, dated February 19, 2025, discussing the upcoming legislation for Florida's rural renaissance. The legislation aims to modernize and support rural communities through various initiatives focusing on infrastructure, economic development, housing, transportation, education, and healthcare.
Key points include:
- Modernizing Support for Fiscally-Constrained Counties: Updating definitions and increasing funding distributions.
- Creating the Office of Rural Prosperity: Providing technical assistance and resources to rural communities.
- Establishing Renaissance Grants: Offering $1 million annually to counties with declining populations.
- Funding Rural Public Infrastructure Innovations: Supporting cost-saving technologies.
- Enhancing Rural Economic Development Initiatives: Grants for site preparedness and marketing.
- Adding Small Business Development Center Circuit Riders: Increasing support for small businesses.
- Maximizing Options for Rural Housing: Increasing SHIP allocations and preserving affordable rental housing.
- Enhancing Rural Transportation and Broadband Infrastructure: Expanding funds for infrastructure projects and improving broadband access.
- Improving Education Opportunities: Increasing funding for regional education consortia and creating supplemental services programs.
- Expanding Access to Health Care: Grants for rural medical practices, training for paramedics, and enhancing Medicaid payments for rural hospitals.
The bill appropriates $197.4 million for various initiatives and redirects funds from general revenue to support these efforts.