More than 160 Florida job growth proposals top $500 million

TALLAHASSEE — In the four months since the state created an $85 million pool of money for economic development, over 160 requests topping $500 million poured in from local governments, schools and business groups.

So far, none of the proposals, ranging from a $24,110 request from Big Bend Technical College for a new postsecondary adult-vocational program for medical administrative specialists to $25 million to help with a $62.1 million highway overpass in Pasco County, have been forwarded to Gov. Rick Scott for final approval.

Kissimmee requested $17.6 million for the Shingle Creek Regional Trail, a 32-mile pathway through Orange and Osceola counties that would link to the state’s Coast-to-Coast Connector.

“We are working diligently to evaluate the Job Growth Grant Fund proposals and will make recommendations to Gov. Scott, who is authorized to approve projects,” Department of Economic Opportunity spokeswoman Tiffany Vause said. “The growth fund process will be transparent and include strict accountability measures for recipients to safeguard taxpayer dollars.”

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund was created during a June special legislative session as a compromise between Scott and House leaders, who earlier had sought to eliminate the businessrecruitment agency Enterprise Florida and other economic-development programs.

House leaders were heavily focused on ending programs that awarded economic incentives to single companies in return for relocating to Florida or expanding in the state. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, repeatedly called such incentives “corporate welfare.”

Money in the new fund is prohibited from going to projects that provide exclusive benefits to single businesses.