Liberty Partners President Jennifer Green has recently worked with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to promote the state’s economic development programs that seek to support rural communities, including the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (FJGGF) and the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Green highlighted how the program has revitalized rural areas across the Sunshine State.
“It helps bring economic development to rural Florida,” Green said.
Now, the issue is getting some much-needed attention from state lawmakers.
It’s called the “Florida Rural Renaissance.” Most of the proposed funding is targeted to communities in northwest Florida.
Elected officials intend to stimulate local economic development through a variety of initiatives focused on public infrastructure, small business growth, expanding transportation services, and access to health care.
These include:
Historic investment in local transportation infrastructure. We are spending $50 million a year to modernize farm-to-market roads that connect agricultural areas to distribution centers. Funding for small county road improvements would be expanded by doubling the state’s investment in the Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP) through vehicle title fee transfers.
The Rural Infrastructure Fund will also be strengthened, increasing regular funding to $10 million and providing an additional $40 million for critical infrastructure projects this year. And Florida is putting about $2 billion into federal broadband funds.
Address the teacher shortage by providing $15,000 in student loan repayment assistance over five years to teachers and administrators in financially stressed counties.
Community health care with programs that help physicians, physician assistants, and autonomous nurse practitioners establish primary care practices in rural areas. It covers initial costs that cannot be covered by existing programs. The FRAME Loan Repayment Program has been expanded to include emergency physicians working in rural hospitals, helping alleviate staffing shortages in essential care areas.
Green said some of these smaller communities have successful manufacturing hubs.
Green said he is optimistic that many of these programs will be supported in the next 2026 legislative session, which begins in January.
