Highlights from the April 10, 2019  CFRPC Council Meeting

Hardee County Activity Report

• Lex Albritton, Hardee County Administrator, reported Hardee County’s budget for this year has increased by $400,000.
• Building permits have increased from last year, although the lack of housing remains a major issue.
• Many economic development projects are underway including a new Circle-K in Zolfo Springs, new & expanding businesses in the Commerce Park, new mining activity, and an experimental agricultural project in coordination with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and South Florida State College to produce several unique and innovative crops such as olives, hops and Pongamia.
• Mr. Albritton also reported on the technologically-advanced Hardee-Fresh operation, where leafy green vegetables are grown hydroponically. The operation produces several truck-loads of vegetables each day.
• Investments in infrastructure continue as Hardee County’s Road and Bridge Department works to replace the single-laned wooden bridges.

Economic Overview

• Pat Steed, Executive Director, provided a comprehensive overview of the economic conditions and forecasts for the State of Florida, including Florida’s current population growth rate, average annual wage by county, current employment conditions and Florida’s housing market statistics. Download the presentation.
• Shannon McPherson, Program Director, presented regional economic indicators including information on talent supply and education, wage and employment measures, growth measures, and quality of life measures. Download the presentation

Disaster Relief Program

Resolution 2019-4A supports a statewide revolving loan fund program by the US Economic Development Administration and is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to assist eligible businesses affected by Hurricane Irma and future disasters.

• MOTION: To adopt Resolution 2019-4A as presented carried unanimously.

Community Technical Assistance Grant

Jennifer Codo-Salisbury, Deputy Director, presented the list of Community Planning Technical Assistance Grants and Competitive Florida Partnership Grants for FY 2018-19 for jurisdictions within the region. These planning grants are offered to rural communities and the funds may be used for economic development or community planning related purposes.

Heartland 2060 Grant Application

Resolution 2019-4B authorizes the Executive Director to apply for a State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) FY 19/20 Community Planning Technical Assistance Grant to continue the update of Heartland2060 Phase 2.

• MOTION: To adopt Resolution 2019-4B as presented carried unanimously.

Heartland 2060 and Proposed New Corridors across CFRPC Counties

Pat Steed provided an overview of the grassroots visioning effort Heartland 2060 and shared how the regional vision addresses the balance of economic development, natural resources, and multi-modal transportation systems as the region grows. She discussed the proposed Senate Bill 7068, which aims to develops three new multi-use corridors to support rural economic development including a corridor from Collier to Polk County.

Update on the Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO)

• Marybeth Soderstrom, Engagement and Mobility Manager, stated staff is staying abreast of the potential new corridors and other legislative issue through the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC).
• At the next HRTPO meeting, members will update the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), which serves as a business plan and budget for the HRTPO. The HRTPO will also be reviewing the transportation project applications submitted to the HRTPO. Projects will be ranked and submitted to FDOT by July 2019 for consideration for programming. The draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for FY 2019/20 – 2023/24 will be presented for review. This document includes all transportation projects within the HRTPO region for the five-year period.

Proposal for new Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA)

Pat Steed reported on current legislative activities including the texting while driving bill, county impact fee bill and the growth management bill. Ms. Steed also reported on the status of proposed legislation to update the Statewide Regional Evacuation Plans for all RPCs. CFRPC staff members continue to work on a number of projects including Post Disaster Recovery.

Other Business

• Chair Thompson reported the Hardee County Economic Development Authority (EDA) has partnered with Rapid Systems from Tampa to upgrade the county’s broadband service to provide 5G to all parts of Hardee County.
• Bryant Culpepper shared that in June 2019 the new $1.4 billion clean burning natural gas Power Plant in Okeechobee County will begin service.

The next meeting of the CFRPC will be at 9:30 am on June 12, 2019, at the Warner University Board Room in Lake Wales.