Technical Assistance &
GIS Mapping
The CFRPC produces maps and conducts geographic analysis to support a wide variety of projects. Most publications produced by the CFRPC include GIS Maps and GIS plays a crucial role in almost all CFRPC programs. The CFRPC maintains a comprehensive database of local and regional GIS data to support these efforts.
Intergovernmental Coordination and Review
Through the IC&R process, the Council reviews applications for federal assistance grants and projects, programs and documents under the National Environmental Policy Act. State Executive Order 83-150 designated Florida’s eleven Regional Planning Councils as “regional clearinghouses”, giving the Regional Planning Council’s responsibility for reviewing such projects and determining each project’s significance.
Community Visioning
The CFRPC provides assistance to communities in developing vision and strategic plans for the future. These are accomplished through Community Workshops, Consensus Building Workshops, and surveys to develop the core values that can be used as the driving force in the community’s future planning efforts.
Planning For
Communities & Region
Providing technical assistance for application processing, administration of awarded projects, and identification of regional funding opportunities to strengthen the regions.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
The CFRPC is the coordinator for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) that is responsible for increasing hazardous materials safety and awareness. The LEPC accomplishes this by assisting in planning for chemical spill mitigation, supporting and providing training events, designing, conducing and evaluating emergency exercises and educating the public on how to react to a hazardous materials release.
​Regional Training and Exercise
The CFRPC provides training and exercised for our communities in the region on topics such as hazardous waste, emergency management, aviation, and emergency response.
Regional Hazardous Materials Planning
The CFRPC serves as the public access repository for the reports filed under EPCRA in the LEPC region, which includes Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, and Okeechobee Counties. This information is used to compile local and regional hazardous materials emergency response plans that are activated in the event of a chemical emergency. These plans are updated regularly as more facilities come into compliance or as inventories change.
Planning For
Emergencies & Disasters
Providing technical assistance for application processing, administration of awarded projects, and identification of regional funding opportunities to strengthen the regions.
Economic Development District
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council serves as the Economic Development District (EDD) for the Central Florida Region. An EDD is a designated planning office that is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration to provide technical assistance for application processing, administration of awarded projects, and identification of regional funding opportunities. The Central Florida Regional Planning Council’s EDD has been serving the region since 1976 (District VII). The Region is comprised of Polk, Hardee, Highlands, DeSoto, and Okeechobee Counties.
Community Redevelopment
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council assists communities within our region to implement community redevelopment efforts. Our expertise includes the development of Finding of Necessity Studies, the creation of Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA’s), and the drafting and adoption of Community Redevelopment Plans that are consistent with Florida Statues, the local Comprehensive Plan, and the communities’ unique needs and vision.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a federally required document that serves as a regional blueprint for creating a stronger, more diverse economy. It is a strategy-driven plan for economic development designed to build capacity, set priorities for investment, and guide economic prosperity and resiliency throughout the region.
Planning For
Economic Development & Future Growth
Providing technical assistance for application processing, administration of awarded projects, and identification of regional funding opportunities to strengthen the regions.
Heartland Rides
Check out Heartland Rides - The hyper-local resource and tool the CFRPC uses to get information to residents and partners about the mobility options, transit providers, and supporting programs in an easy and accessible way.
Heartland Regional
Transportation Planning Organization
The Heartland Regional Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) coordinates transportation plans for the Heartland region including the six counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands and Okeechobee and the urbanized area of Highlands County including the cities of Sebring and Avon Park. Our organization provides the forum for local elected officials, their staff, and industry experts, and the public to work together to improve transportation in the Heartland Region.
Rural Public Transit
In partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation District One, the CFRPC serves as the regional mobility management, is a conduit of federal transit funds to local programs, and addresses the mobility needs of the Heartland area especially within an economic development and land use framework.
Planning For
Roads, Transit, & Mobility
Collaborating with local governments and transportation agencies, while convening and engaging the public and community partners to improve the future of transportation and mobility options.