Forestry Home > Forest Management > Forestry Assistance > Rural
Development Program
With over 80% of the acreage in Florida existing in rural
environments, the need to reduce the economic decline
in these communities is a mounting concern. As the future
of rural Florida goes, so goes a large part of the State
of Florida. The Division of Forestry is committed to doing
its part in securing the future of rural Florida for the
citizens of this state and all of America.
Forest, wildlife and coastal
resources provide the tangible assets needed to initiate
programs that will stimulate economic growth and social
sustainability.
The focus of Division's Rural Development Program is to provide
rural communities with technical assistance in the design
and development of forest-based projects and to act as
a liaison between communities and the various organizations that provide
financial and in-kind support for rural development projects.
Partnership and Collaboration
The Rural Development Program works in cooperation with federal, state, private, tribal and not-for-profit agencies, eliminating duplication of effort and increasing
output through the sharing of information.
The USDA Forest Service provides financial support to
communities in the form of Economic Recovery Grants and
Rural Development Grants. These are designed to both assist
in the planning of projects and to "seed" projects
that generate jobs. Various state agencies provide grant
dollars for the development of infrastructure and numerous
low interest loans are available to communities for getting
projects off the ground.
By working directly with organizations such as the Florida
State Rural Development Council (FSRDC), the Division's Rural Development Program
is assisted by a network of established
and emerging rural institutions that work together to
strengthen rural Florida. The Council provides numerous
in-kind contributions to not-for-profit entities such
as corporate donations, Circuit Riders and Americorp Vista
workers. These in-kind services have proven to be invaluable
when trying to secure grant funding.
Contact Us:
Britt Evans, Rural Development Coordinator
Florida Division of Forestry
Forest Management
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650
Telephone: 850/ 414-9955
Email: evansb1@doacs.state.fl.us
| Forestry and Landowner Assistance Partners: |
USDA Farm
Services Agency
PO Box 141030
Gainesville, FL 32614-1030
352/ 379-4500 |
USDA
Forest Service (Supervisor's Ofc.)
325 John Knox Road
Tallahassee, FL 32303
850/ 942-9300 |
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service RC&D
4440 N.W. 25th Place
Gainesville, FL 32606
352/ 338-3400 |
Florida
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Florida, IFAS
1038 McCarty Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611
352/ 392-1761 |
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