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.
| Baker |
Franklin |
Hendry |
Liberty |
Union |
| Bradford |
Gadsden |
Highlands |
Madison |
Wakulla |
| Calhoun |
Gilchrist |
Holmes |
Nassau |
Washington |
| Columbia |
Glades |
Jackson |
Okeechobee |
Walton |
| DeSoto |
Gulf |
Jefferson |
Putnam |
|
| Dixie |
Hamilton |
Lafayette |
Suwannee |
|
| Flagler |
Hardee |
Levy |
Taylor |
|
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.