Rural Definition

Rural Definition

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
• Any municipality within a county as described above

The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) was established to better serve Florida's economically distressed rural communities. An "economically distressed" county/community is eligible to request a "Waiver or Reduction of Match" of jobs or wage requirements, eligible company criterion, inducement requirement and grants. Each state agency determines which grant programs will allow for a waiver of match based on their annual budget and federal and state guidelines.

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

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 REDI. To learn more, please visit our Rural Communities page.

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 the Department of Economic Opportunity.

For a current list of eligible communities, please contact the Bureau of Economic Development at (850) 717-8428, or (850) 717-8497.