EMPOWERING FLORIDA S RURAL COMMUNITIES

EMPOWERING FLORIDA S RURAL COMMUNITIES

EMPOWERING FLORIDA S RURAL COMMUNITIES Denise Grimsley views the ongoing and future role of Florida s Agriculture & Consumer Services Commissioner to be that of Champion-in-Chief for Rural Florida. Our small towns and counties should have a voice speaking specifically for their concerns and issues in Tallahassee. They need someone who s lived and worked on two-lane roads, not just toured them. As Commissioner, Denise Grimsley will be that voice for the forgotten parts of Florida. The mission of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) matches well with the needs of communities across the state, and offers an opportunity to partner together for better quality of life and job creation.

Talent, Tech & Small Town Turnarounds: 1. JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITIES Rural communities are often hardest hit by economic downturns and take longer to recover. Rural Florida needs a consistent, long-term approach to economic stability. That approach must include an emphasis on infrastructure development and improvement. Farm-to-market roads are symbolic of that challenge. Built to provide a path for farmers to get their commodities to market, they often suffer over time as roads crumble and maintenance gives way to local budget crunches. Extend that to a number of infrastructure challenges (water, wastewater, road systems) that rural communities must meet. Delivering connectivity and infrastructure to our small towns, rural communities and farms will mean businesses can blossom anywhere. Creating hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship in our small towns, many of which have empty or underutilized downtowns, can result in a revival of Main Streets across our state. We need a hands-on emphasis to address rural renewal efforts and FDACS is best positioned to help communities achieve those goals. Appoint a Deputy Commissioner for Rural Affairs within the Commissioner s office. This new role will be a primary point of contact for the Commissioner s efforts to press all rural initiatives within FDACS and in the Legislature, along with external partners in federal, state and local agencies. Transfer administration of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) and the Rural Community Programs from FDEO as well as the Economic Development Transportation Program ( Road Fund ) from FDOT to FDACS. This statutory and management change would raise the profile of rural issues to a Cabinet-level agency and align many complementary programs with those housed federally within USDA s Rural Development arm.

Request that the Legislature double the allotment for Florida s Rural Job Creation Tax Credit. This is currently a $1500 per job tax credit and provides for a maximum of $5 million in credits annually. By doubling the threshold to provide $10 million in credits with certain safeguards and claw-backs for demonstrated follow-through, we ll send a message that Rural Florida is ready and open for business. Champion Precision Agriculture Product Development. Connectivity and technology on farms means productivity for farmers. It also translates into more efficient use of water and fertilizer, making it a win-win for our shared natural resources. This would include partnership with universities in development and commercialization of technology geared toward agribusiness. Offer Food Product Development Resources. Long-term consumer trends emphasize locally grown and artisanal foods. It s reviving what we used to call cottage food industry. By leveraging resources and know-how of FDACS, we can help small start-ups bring their niche and innovative Florida-grown food products to the marketplace. Seek consensus with stakeholders on ways to expedite connectivity infrastructure for Rural Florida. Putting Rural Florida in the marketplace is all about bridging the Digital Divide. In the 21st century, rural communities need connectivity - and it s all about the bottom line. Today s emerging technology in agriculture means laptops in tractors and the ability to link to real-time data about weather, soil and hydrologic conditions. It has also become an essential component of local infrastructure 29 PERCENT OF U.S. FARMS HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. (Source: USDA, 2017)

Hands-On Know-How: 2. A RURAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Not every student is college-bound, nor must they be in order to succeed. But every student does need training. And in Florida, we should offer multiple tracks toward career-readiness. Too often, the skill-building opportunities they offer are Florida s best-kept secret. We also have nationally recognized college-bound paths in agriculture that are critical to ongoing rural development. And don t underestimate the value of agriculture programs in our middle and high schools. Champion the role and funding of UF/IFAS and FAMU Extensions in Florida s 67 counties, providing a host of services, resources, data and guidance. Like public libraries, Extension Centers provide every Floridian with resources that can be helpful to continuing education and training, not to mention expertise in the latest agriculture and livestock best practices. Press for the expansion of CAPE certification opportunities for high school students. These provide students with specific training, which leads to an industry-recognized certification before a student even graduates. By certifying students for turnkey opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, welding, mechanics, forestry, aquaculture, hydroponics, animal husbandry and more, we give them an opportunity to make a living without being forced to leave Rural Florida to do it. Advocate state marketing funds for vo-tech schools, so that we can eliminate the college-or-bust myth and promote a host of viable career paths. Vo-techs have the flexibility to match course offerings with local workforce needs on a rolling basis, especially in Rural Florida where job-training opportunities are otherwise sparse. We can also challenge more state colleges to offer 2-year agriculture degrees with that in mind.

Encourage creation of a matching grant program for young farmers and ranchers seeking entry into agriculture field. The average age of a Florida farmer is now 59 and to encourage younger generations to enter agriculture, we ll need to address access to land, capital and market. We can also work with agribusiness industry leaders to create a more robust offering of apprenticeships to give young people more pathways into these careers. Fund proven leadership and skill-building programs like 4-H and FFA. These programs have the ability to touch every community in Florida, especially in rural areas. They foster unparalleled skill, leadership and knowledge development. In fact, these are the single-greatest career-building programs in Rural Florida, and should be prioritized as such. FLORIDA HAS AN UNHERALDED NETWORK OF VO-TECH SCHOOLS ADMINISTERED BY BOTH SCHOOL AND STATE COLLEGES. THESE SCHOOLS ARE EQUIPPING BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

3. RURAL TOURISM Florida had an all-time high in number of visitors to our state in 2017. While many are destined for theme parks and beaches, Rural Florida is capturing a segment of those visitors for off-the-beaten-path excursions. Further, many trends in tourism are bending toward hands-on experiences. That s why both agri-tourism and eco-tourism opportunities are key ways that Rural Florida can also benefit from the millions who will seek out the Sunshine State annually while preserving rural character. Agri-tourism allows a farmer or rancher to diversify their operations and educate the general public on food sources at the same time. Eco-tourism highlights the diverse geography and natural resources that Florida has to offer. From first-magnitude springs to the Everglades, scuba-diving, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching or just sight-seeing. Implement an Agri-Tourism highway signage program. Modeled after the successful Florida Winery Signage program, we can help create a consistent and trustworthy way to put agri-tourism on the map. Collaborate with the Florida Agri-Tourism Association, Visit Florida, and local/regional tourism agencies to cross-promote the award-winning Fresh From Florida marketing program with tourism opportunities. Don t just buy Fresh From Florida; come experience it! Develop an annual Commissioner s Blue Ribbon for Agri-Tourism Destination of the Year. Agri-tourism is a complementary part of Florida s agriculture economy and we should celebrate it and showcase it. Work with Florida Department of State to create a Florida Agriculture Heritage Trail. This would help emphasize the cultural and historical heritage of Florida agriculture. Highlight the work and offerings of the Florida Agricultural Museum in Flagler County, and other state resources, such as state forests. We have many assets that can provide context and entry points for broader agri-tourism and eco-tourism opportunities.

PAID BY DENISE GRIMSLEY, REPUBLICAN, FOR COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES. DENISEGRIMSLEY.COM