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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #438 |
| Alternative Agriculture Pilot Program |
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| Requester: |
Chairman Bob Cole, et al. |
Organization: |
Santa Rosa BOCC |
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| Project Title: |
Alternative Agriculture Pilot Program |
Date Submitted |
1/11/2006 9:21:01 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Peaden |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Agribusiness development/economic development and diversification. |
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| Recipient: |
Santa Rosa BOCC |
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Contact: |
Hunter Walker |
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6495 Caroline St., Ste M |
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Contact Phone: |
(850) 983-1877 |
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Milton 32570 |
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Contact email: |
walkerh@co.santa-rosa.fl.us |
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| Counties: |
Santa Rosa |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| Alternative Crops Research and Incubator Program: The mission of this program is to develop farm and land based enterprises that are economically viable, preserve productive agriculrutal land and increase access to locally grown foods. The program is a joint partnership of Santa Rosa County, Team Santa Rosa Ecomonic Development Council, the University of Florida West Florida Research Center, and UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension.
The program is a producer focused alternative crop demonstration program conducted primarily onsite at the West Florida Research and Education Center. The program includes crop selection and production, development of value added products for local crops and marketing of crops and value added products. The programis designed to promote extensive interaction and cooperation with area farmers.
The program provides specialized support and technical assistance to help farmers expand their markets and increase revenues. Farmers are linked with technical assitance providers (such as extension agents, well established framers, university faculty, lenders and tax consultants) who assist them with production, diversifying solid business planning, securing financing , devloping value added businesses and marketing. Farmers are also able to grow their own demonstration plots of alternative crops onsite at the research center. Ultimately the project will develop a full service business incubator that leases land, equipment, greenhouses, irrigation and storage facilities to small farmer who wish to farm alternative crops.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Three primary indicators will be ised to determine the success of this program. 1) Farmers who participate in the program will be asked to evaluate the effectiveness of the program by indicating whether or not their farm operation experiences increased profitability as a result of the program initiatives. 2) A pre-survey of exisiting ag industry businesses will be completed by Spring 2006. As part of the program's evaluation each year, this survey will be updated. Improved diversification will be an indication of the program's sucess. 3) The program will also focus on bringing new farmers into the industry. The annual number of new farmers assisted will also be used as an indication of success.
A secondary indicator will be an increase in local availability of local foods. Currently only a few farm stands, grocery stores. restuarants and farmers' markets provide consumers with access to local foods. Annual surveys of these businesses will indicate increases in availability. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$125,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$125,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Private |
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Cash Amount |
$40,000 |
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In-kind Amount |
$25,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Economic Development Plan for Santa Rosa Co. and Team Santa Rosa Strategic Plan for core industries |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Santa Rosa BOCC |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
12/08/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
