FOUR FLORIDA RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY’S COMPETITIVE FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP

RICK SCOTT Governor	JESSE PANUCCIO Executive Director
For Immediate Release: Monday, January 6, 2014 Contact: DEO Communications, 850.617.5600, media@deo.myflorida.com
FOUR FLORIDA RURAL COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY’S COMPETITIVE FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP New DEO program highlights asset-based economic development for rural communities throughout Florida
TALLAHASSEE - Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced the four communities participating in the pilot program for the Competitive Florida Partnership, a new rural community development initiative. The City of Port St. Joe, the City of Newberry, the City of White Springs, and Desoto County were the first four rural communities chosen to participate in the program. The Competitive Florida Partnership focuses on improving local economic development activities, particularly in the rural areas of our state. DEO will assist these communities in creating strategic economic development plans that are tailored for each community’s unique assets. For example, DEO will create community asset inventories that will be available to potential businesses wishing to expand in or move to Florida. Governor Rick Scott said, “The Competitive Florida Partnership provides our rural communities with the tools they need to work together and encourage economic development throughout the state. Port St. Joe, the City of Newberry, the City of White Springs and Desoto County should be congratulated for being the first communities to participate in this program and for their commitment to creating jobs and opportunities for Florida families.” The Competitive Florida Partnership will help rural communities value and market local assets and challenge them to set realistic goals for advancing their economic development vision. The four participating communities will design and develop innovative strategies that promote partnerships, community design, and a viable local economy. “Our goal is to help create an opportunity economy in Florida, in which every community can offer jobs for the next generation,” said Jesse Panuccio, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. “Competitive Florida will help rural communities map their strengths and identify what makes them distinctive. DEO understands there is power in collaboration, and this program will build an active network of passionate community leaders who share ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.” Asset-based economic development is a bottom-up approach that focuses on developing and promoting existing local resources to strengthen the local economy. This approach focuses on a rural community’s tangible and intangible assets combined with economic advantages and how these can be leveraged into sustainable economic growth and prosperity. Assets in a community may include but are not limited to: individuals and human capital; associations and voluntary networks; political advocates; historical and cultural resources; natural landscapes (including renewable and nonrenewable material resources); financial assets; the built environment including transportation networks, communications facilities, utilities, public facilitates and commercial buildings; institutions such as schools, hospitals and government agencies. DEO will work with the selected rural communities to identify and market these assets and facilitate promotional opportunities to bring economic development to their community.   For more information regarding the Competitive Florida Partnership, please visit: www.floridajobs.org/CompetitiveFlorida.

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