Tallahassee – Senate President Ben Albritton calls it “the battle for the Florida countryside renaissance.”
And on Wednesday, the Senate announced a 129-page bill that takes steps to strengthen healthcare, education, roads and economic development in 31 counties, often not as booming as the rest of Florida. did.
Albritton, a Wautura Republican and citrus grower, has long made it clear that rural issues were the focus of his time leading the Senate. In a memo to the Senators Wednesday, he said the bill’s proposal would “provide an opportunity to grow to make sure they are appropriate, based on decisions made by local families and businesses that call the Florida countryside home.” Ta.
“These are important strengthening and investments to support 31 of Florida’s 67 counties and hundreds of rural communities,” the memo said. “We’ve seen tremendous economic growth in Florida’s urban areas. It’s Florida’s turn.”
The bill (SB 110) will be introduced at a legislative meeting starting March 4th and is sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, a Republican from Tallahassee.
According to the Senate overview, the bill includes:
They are seeking to support rural hospitals that are struggling financially and attract doctors and other healthcare providers to rural areas. This includes providing an additional $25 million for mobile healthcare units and telehealth kiosks. We provide a $25 million grant to help physicians and highly registered nurse practitioners launch practices in rural areas. Increased payments to rural hospitals that provide care to Medicaid beneficiaries. Provides incentives for teachers to work in rural areas and supports rural school districts with facility projects. The bill creates a program that will provide $15,000 for rural teachers with help with repayment of student loans. It also helps to free up money for school facility projects by making changes to existing programs that fund school construction. It will increase state spending on rural transport projects, including what Albritton’s memo calls “farm-to-market” roads. The bill also makes other changes to fund the Rural Roads Project. For example, increase funding for programs that help pay for county roads and reconstruction payments. Change the formula to provide more money to what is known as a “financially constrained county.” The bill calls for at least $50 million a year, requiring counties to use 50% for public safety, 30% for infrastructure and 20% for other needs. Establishes a Rural Prosperity Office at the Department of Commerce to provide technical assistance to rural communities. The bill also provides $1 million block grants to each of eight counties: Gadsden, Hardy, Tariyor, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Madison and Lafayette. Counties need to develop plans to use money to increase their population.
The bill includes funding for the $1.974 billion program and redirects other money in the state budget.
In a statement prepared on Wednesday, Simon said that Florida “describes as a national vy hope and does not leave the rural community behind.”
“We combine strengthening traditional infrastructure for schools and hospitals with innovations that expand and enhance access,” he said. “We know that commerce and capital are attracted to strong transportation infrastructure and robust public services.
Jim Sanders, Florida news service
