MOA OTTED Rural Area Critical Concern 2006JEB BUSH
GOVERNOR
STATE OF FLORIDA
Wm of the
It:
otiernor
THE CAPITOL
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399 -0001
The Honorable James E. Kirk, Mayor
City of Okeechobee
55 S.E. 3rd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34974
www.flgov.com
850 - 488 -7146
850- 487 -0801 fax
June 15, 2006
RE: Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern Memorandum of Agreement
Dear Mayor Kirk:
Enclosed please find an original, fully executed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
between the City of Okeechobee which is within Okeechobee County, and the
Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED).
Okeechobee County is part of the South Central Florida Rural Area of Critical Economic
Concern which was re- designated February 16, 2006 by Executive Order Number 06 -34,
expiration date of February 16, 2011.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 288.0656(7), designation as a rural area of critical economic
concern shall be contingent upon the execution of memoranda of agreement between
OTTED and the governing bodies of the counties and municipalities in a rural area of
critical economic concern.
Please retain this original for your files. If you have any questions assistance, please do
not hesitate to call me at (850) 487 -2974 or email me at diane.scholz(,myflorida.com.
Sincerely,
Diane Scholz
Assistant Coordinator, Rural Issues
Office of Tourism, Trade and
Economic Development
cc: Florida's Heartland REDI
rorGovernor's Motoring Initiative
/7 BE A MENTOR. BE A BIG HELP.
.Q�a' 1 -800- 825 -3786
THIS STANDARD MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT IS
A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN:
THE OFFICE OF TOURISM, TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AND
THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
I. Background and Purpose of Agreement
The purpose of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is to document the terms and
conditions of partnership between the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic
Development (OTTED) and the City of Okeechobee for the implementation of the
Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern re- designation.
The Governor and the Legislature recognize that, while Florida's urban communities
have grown rapidly over the past 45 years, Florida's rural communities have not
shared this growth and prosperity. The Governor and Legislature further recognize
that although successful rural communities are essential to the overall success of the
state's economy, the well being and viability of many rural communities is becoming
more difficult as they struggle to maintain their capacity to support or enhance job
creating activity for their residents or to generate revenues for education and other
critical government services such as infrastructure, transportation and safety.
The Governor and the Legislature found that in many cases rural communities have
and continue to experience severe and sustained economic distress. Job creation rates
arc significantly lower than those in more urbanized areas. In several cases, rural
communities have lost jobs. These factors handicap local economies and drain wealth
from these communities. It was further found that support provided by many state
programs and service delivery is often hampered by the structure of the programs
themselves and the lack of local resources.
Accordingly, the Legislature enacted, and the Governor signed in to law, Chapter 99-
251, Laws of Florida, which expressed the intent to provide for more efficient and
effective delivery of programs of assistance and support to rural communities
including the use where appropriate, of regulatory flexibility through multiagency
coordination and other measures, and declared the implementation of measures
providing such assistance to fulfill an important state interest. Chapter 99 -251, Laws
of Florida, also created Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, which authorized the
establishment of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) within OTTED
and the designation of up to three Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern.
Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, defined a Rural Area of Critical Economic
Concern as a region composed of rural communities adversely affected by
extraordinary economic events. Thus, pursuant to Section 288.0656 (7), Florida
Statutes, representatives of the twenty -one state and regional agencies and
organizations comprising the Rural Economic Development Initiative met on January
17, 2006 and recommended the re- designation of the Counties of DeSoto, Glades,
Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee, and the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and
South Bay in Palm Beach County, and the Immokalee Area in Collier County as a
Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern. On February 16, 2006, Governor Bush
signed Executive Order #06 -34 which implemented the re- designation.
This MOA establishes an understanding between OTTED and the City of
Okeechobee as to the responsibilities of the Rural Economic Development Initiative
and those of the City of Okeechobee to ensure the benefit of re- designation as a Rural
Area of Critical Economic Concern.
II. The Rural Economic Development Initiative
The Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) is responsible for coordinating
and focusing the efforts and resources of state and regional agencies on the problems
which affect the fiscal, economic, and community viability of Florida's rural
communities; working with local governments, community -based organizations, and
private organizations that have an interest in the growth and development of these
communities to find ways to balance environmental and growth management issues
with local needs.
Through REDI, participating agencies make the following commitments.
1. Facilitate better access to state resources by providing more direct access and
referrals to appropriate state and regional agencies and statewide
organizations.
2. Designate a specific staff person or persons from within the agency or
organization to serve as the representative for that agency or organization in
matters relating to the Rural Areas of Critical Concern. This person may be
the same individual as has been designated to serve as the agency's or
organization's representative to REDI.
3. The staff representative shall be the primary point of contact for his or her
agency with REDI on issues and projects relating to the Rural Areas of
Critical Economic Concern and, with regard to expediting project review,
shall ensure a prompt, effective response to problems and issues, and shall
work closely with the other REDI representatives in the identification of
opportunities for preferential awards of program funds as well as allowances
and waiver of program requirements when possible and appropriate to
encourage and facilitate long -term private capital investment, job creation,
and community enhancement.
4. Projects within the Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern shall be
priority assignments for agencies within REDI.
5. On a case -by -case basis, REDI may recommend to the Governor
waivers of criteria, requirements or provisions of certain economic
development incentives including but not limited to the Qualified Targeted
Industry Tax Refund Program, the Quick Response Training Program, the
WAGES Quick Response Training Program, the Economic Development
Transportation Fund, the Brownfield Bonus Tax Program, and the Rural Job
Tax Credit Program.
III. The Participating Community
Pursuant to Section 288.0656, Florida Statutes, and to Executive Order #04 -250, re- designation
as a Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern shall be contingent upon the execution of a
Memorandum of Agreement between OTTED and the governing bodies of the Counties and the
governing bodies of the Municipalities included within the area. Such memoranda shall specify
the terms and conditions of the designations, including the duties and responsibilities of the
Counties and Municipalities to take actions designed to facilitate the retention and expansion of
existing businesses as well as the recruitment of new businesses to the area, and improve the
quality of life for their residents.
The City of Okeechobee makes the following commitments.
1. Designate a specific person from among the City of Okeechobee elected or appointed
officials and one person from a non - profit organization engaged in economic
development activity to serve as an alternate for the community in matters relating to
the South Central Florida Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern. These
individuals may be the same as have been designated to serve as the community's
representative to other, similar organizations. The names and contact information for
these individuals are attached as Exhibit A.
2. Projects within the South Central Florida Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern
shall be priority assignments for local agencies under the control of the governing
body of the City of Okeechobee. These agencies will work cooperatively with REDI
agencies to implement these projects
3. The governing body of the City of Okeechobee will work to ensure priority
consideration and cooperation among local organizations to support projects within
the South Central Florida Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern.
4. The governing body of the City of Okeechobee will identify and implement those
actions it believes best designed to facilitate the retention and expansion of existing
businesses as well as the recruitment of new businesses and improve the quality of
life for their residents.
5. Upon request, the governing body of the City of Okeechobee will provide such
information to OTTED which will facilitate REDI's annual review of the designation
as a Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern.
IV. Implementation and Duration
Pursuant to Executive Order #06 -34, the re- designation of the South Central Florida Rural Area
of Critical Economic Concern affecting the Counties of Desoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry,
Highlands, Okeechobee, and the Cities of Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay in Palm Beach
County, and the Immokalee Area in Collier County as a Rural Area of Critical Economic
Concern. On February 16, 2006, Governor Bush signed Executive Order #06 -34 which
implemented the re- designation. REDI may recommend the designation be terminated or
continued based on economic development progress from current base lines or upon performance
under the memoranda of agreement.
1. This MOA shall take effect immediately upon signature by the parties involved.
2. This MOA shall expire on February 17, 2011 unless terminated earlier based on
economic development progress from current base lines or upon performance as
indicated above.
3. Both parties shall review this MOA periodically. If revisions are
needed, notification shall be given to both parties in writing of the specific
changes desired with the proposed modification language and the reasons for the
revisions. With the mutual consent of both parties, the proposed changes shall
become effective when both parties to the MOA have signed a modification to
this agreement.
4. The City of Okeechobee may terminate this MOA at any time upon written notice
to OTTED.
In Witness whereof, the parties have executed this Memorandum of Agreement this day of
2006.
ana, Director
Offic: of ourism, Trade
An. conomic Development
`V. J
James E. Kirk, Mayor
The of City Okeechobee
Board of City Commissioners
C:4°
rn o -�
CA 0
C ern rn
N ont-,
;10oz,
▪ CI, Cr
� mzm
D o
m
The City of Okeechobee
EXHIBIT A
Contact Information For An Elected or Appointed Official
Name: Dowling R. Watford, Jr.
Address: City of Okeechobee
55 SE 3rd Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34974
Phone: (863) 763 -3372 ext. 212
Fax: (863) 763 -1686
Email: dowlingwatford @okeechobeeford.com
Contact Information For One Person From A Non - Profit Organization
Engaged in Economic Development
Name: Dawn Hoover
Address: P.O. Box 718
Okeechobee, FL 34973
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
(863) 467 -0200
djjkhoover @aol.com