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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #598 |
| Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority |
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| Requester: |
Margaret Rowell, Director of Development |
Organization: |
Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority |
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| Project Title: |
Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority |
Date Submitted |
1/3/2008 1:26:40 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Dean, Lynn, Oelrich |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| In the statute that created the Florida Agriculture Center & Horse Park, the Florida Legislature found that, �Agriculture is an important industry to the State of Florida, producing over $6 billion per year while supporting over 230,000 jobs (Fl Statute 570.951). Equine and other agriculture-related industries will strengthen and benefit each other with the establishment of a statewide agriculture and horse facility. The Florida Agriculture Center & Horse Park will provide Florida with a unique tourist experience for visitors and residents, thus generating taxes and additional dollars for the state.�
The Florida Horse industry produces a total economic impact valued at $5.1 billion, generates a direct economic impact of $3.0 billion and generates taxes of approximately $98 million annually. Florida is home to some 600 Thoroughbred breeding farms and training centers, with more than 75% of these located in Ocala/Marion County. This investment in breeding farms, training centers, breeding and racing stock creates an economic impact in excess of $1 billion. The Florida Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry in the Ocala/Marion County area creates a total economic impact of $1.3 billion with 31,020 total jobs generated.
�Promoting the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park as a joint effort between the state and the private sector will allow this facility to generate revenue from many areas ensuring the success of this facility (FL Statute 570.951).� Since 2005, private sector investments from the equine and agriculture industry have yielded over $2,775,000 in existing capital improvements to the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park.
In addition, The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has established an equine educational sports program designed to give student riders the opportunity to learn, compete, and succeed at the collegiate level while at the same time promoting the state's multibillion dollar equine industry. The Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park and Central Florida Community College are working together to build a hands-on educational facility for its students, thereby supporting the goals of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Moreover, the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park holds numerous nationally and internationally recognized equestrian events, hosting competitors from over 30 US states and nine countries and has become an official training site for the United States Equestrian Team. The Park has recently opened its gates to regional shows and new disciplines representative of over 40 events this year, thereby, increasing Agritourism in Florida (defined in FL Statute 570.961). The Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park is poised to become the next qualifying site for world class equestrian competitions including the Olympics, the World Equestrian Games and the Pan Am Games.
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| Recipient: |
The Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority |
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Contact: |
Margaret Rowell |
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11008 S HWY 475 |
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Contact Phone: |
(352) 307-6699 |
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Ocala 34480 |
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Contact email: |
margaret@flhorsepark.com |
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| Counties: |
Marion |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services� Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park [Florida Horse Park], as established under Florida Statute 570.952, requests funding of $2 million dollars to develop revenue producing, permanent capital improvements, including permanent stabling facilities at the Florida Horse Park; matching the private sector investment in excess of $2.75 million. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| The development of revenue producing, permanent capital improvements at the Park will create a significant return for the state in taxes and tourism revenue coming into the state. The Kentucky Horse Park estimates its annual economic impact at $130-$150 million. With the infrastructure currently in place, the Park generated, for its fiscal year 2006-2007, more than $12,000,000 in economic activity in Marion County and the state of Florida as well as almost $1,000,000.00 in state and local taxes. As the Park expands its facilities, the state can expect to see an annual economic impact of approximately $63,000,000, causing the formation of 965 jobs earning $22 million and generating $4.6 million in state and local taxes (see Policom study). |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$2,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$2,000,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Private |
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Cash Amount |
$2,750,000 |
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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? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Economic & Fiscal Impact of the Florida Horse Park Upon Marion County and the State of Florida |
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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: |
Marion County Legislative Delegation |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
