Rural Definition and Eligibility

Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, defines a rural county as:

• A county with a population of 75,000 or less;
• A county with a population of 125,000 or less which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or less and
• Any municipality within a county as described above

The following counties are eligible to request a reduction or waiver of match:

1. Baker
2. Bradford
3. Calhoun
4. Columbia
5. DeSoto
6. Dixie
7. Flagler
8. Franklin
9. Gadsden
10. Gilchrist
11. Glades
12. Gulf
13. Hamilton
14. Hardee
15. Hendry
16. Highlands
17. Holmes
18. Jackson
19. Jefferson
20. Lafayette
21. Levy
22. Liberty
23. Madison
24. Nassau
25. Okeechobee
26. Putnam
27. Suwannee
28. Taylor
29. Union
30. Wakulla
31. Walton
32. Washington

Communities

An unincorporated federal enterprise community or an incorporated rural city with a population of 25,000 or less and an employment base focused on traditional agricultural or resource-based industries located in a county not defined as rural, which has multiple economic distress factors, may qualify for a reduction or waiver of match and technical assistance from the Rural Economic Development Initiative.

Communities not located in a designated rural county are eligible for a reduction or waiver of match based upon documentation submitted, verified and approved by FloridaCommerce.

Is My Community Eligible?

If the answer is yes to all the questions below, your community may be eligible to request a "Reduction or Waiver of Financial Match Requirements" and assistance from the Rural Economic Development Initiative.

1. Does your community have an employment base that is dominated by traditional agricultural or resource-based industries? To ensure your community meets these criteria, utilize the "On the Map" tool produced by the United States Census Bureau. On the left side of the screen under "Search," type in the name and state of your community (for example, Sweetgum, Florida) and select "Places (Cities, Census-Designated Place, etc.)" from the drop-down menu. Then select "Search." Select your community from the list of results. When a map appears in the right side of the screen, click on "Perform Analysis on Selection Area" and the "Analysis Settings" page will open. Select work/area profile/the most current year/all jobs click on "Go" then select "Detailed Report" under the "Report/Map Outputs" toolbar found on the left-side of the screen.
2. Is the population of your community 25,000 or less?
3. Is your community an unincorporated federal enterprise community or an incorporated rural city that is not located in a designated rural county?
4. Does your community have at least three or more economic distress factors equal to or greater than similar designated rural communities?

Local Economic Distress Factors

• low per capita income
• low per capita taxable values
• high unemployment
• high underemployment
• low weekly earned wages
• low housing values
• high percentages of the population receiving public assistance
• high poverty levels

To qualify, applicants must submit a request and current documentation that shows the local employment base is focused on traditional agriculture or a resource base industry (forestry, mining, fishing, hunting, quarrying, oil and gas extraction); and current data showing the community has at least three or more economic distress factors at least 25 percent greater than the state average.

Upon verification, a letter of eligibility will be provided to qualified communities. The designation for a community that is not located in a "Rural County" is good for one year from the date on the letter of eligibility. A new request and updated documentation must be submitted on an annual basis on or before the expiration date to continue designation.

The following can assist with the most recent community labor statistics, percentage of students participating in the free lunch program, housing values, property tax values, census tracts, land use maps, etc.:

• The Local Regional Planning Council
• The Local Farm Bureau
• The Local Property Appraisers and Tax Collectors
• The Local County Extension Office
• The Division of Labor Market Statistics

"On the Map" is a good tool to use for defining the local employment base; agriculture or resource-based industries must fall within the top three industries.