Resources for Rural Communities
Building bridges and sharing successes between communities in Florida.Rural Expansion Toolkit and Other Resources
Enterprise Florida, Inc. is your one-stop shop for accessing resources to enhance your community’s economic development strategy.
Looking to craft a strategic plan for economic development in your rural community – but don’t know where to start? Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) has you covered. EFI’s Rural Expansion Toolkit includes grant opportunities for marketing and training, consulting services and site preparedness in Florida’s rural communities. Applications will be accepted from local or regional economic development or community partners located within a rural community – as identified inFlorida Statute 288.0656(e)– who can demonstrate a pathway to site readiness. EFI also offers乐动体育app下载LDsport as well as MaSBEC Grants. Learn more about the Rural Expansion Toolkit as well as other local, state and national economic development resources below.
Quick Links
- International Economic Development Council
- Florida Economic Development Council
- National Rural Economic Developers Association
- Department of Economic Opportunity – Rural Areas of Opportunity
- North Florida Economic Development Partnership
- Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity
- Opportunity Florida
- U.S. Economic Development Association
- Visit Florida Grants
- Department of Economic Opportunity – Military Grants
Marketing and Training
的Rural Marketing & Training Grant Program was established to support rural communities’ efforts to market their counties and provide additional training, technical, marketing, and lead generation opportunities to their employees, elected officials, and board members. Grant funds may also be used for attendance at any approved economic development-related conference or forum including reimbursement for participation in Rural Week in Tallahassee in March 2021. Grants within this program are eligible for reimbursement up to $5,000 for activities completed between July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.Click hereto learn more about the program, andclick here申请。的application deadline is May 15, 2021.
Consulting Services
Communities may apply for reimbursement for consulting services to enhance economic development efforts within their community. These efforts may include contracting with a consultant to conduct a SWAT analysis; develop an RFI response template; develop a strategic plan; seek Opportunity Zone consulting; receive site evaluation services, or access other eligible consulting services. Grants within this program are eligible for reimbursement up to $5,000 for activities completed between July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021.Click hereto learn more about the program, andclick here申请。的application deadline is May 15, 2021.
Site Preparedness
To gain a competitive advantage when it comes to business attraction and expansion projects, EFI assists Florida’s rural communities with the development and enhancement of sites to make them build-ready and competitive for site selection projects. Grant funds may be available for, but are not limited to, the following types of activities: matching funds for federal grants; renovation of existing building or demolition of old buildings (county or city-owned); stormwater project for potential commercial sites; phase one environmental study; gas line extension; water and sewer construction or upgrade; access road construction (including engineering or architecture costs); or other approved infrastructure costs. Grants within this program are eligible for reimbursement up to $25,000 with a 24-month term beginning upon the execution of the grant contract.Click hereto learn more about the program.