The Florida Senate

570.242  Definitions relating to Agricultural Economic Development Act.--For purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1)  "Agriculturally depressed area" means a rural area which has declining profitability from agricultural enterprises and one or more of the following characteristics:

(a)  A stable or declining population.

(b)  A stable or declining real per capita income.

(c)  A traditional economy based on agriculture or extraction of solid minerals.

(d)  A low ad valorem tax base.

(e)  A need for agribusiness and leadership training.

(f)  Crop losses or economic depression resulting from a natural disaster or socioeconomic conditions or events which negatively impact a crop.

(2)  "Assistance" means financial or nonfinancial assistance issued pursuant to the provisions of this act.

(3)  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(4)  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(5)  "Financial assistance" means the providing of funds to an agribusiness.

(6)  "Nonfinancial assistance" means the providing of personnel to work with an agribusiness to establish an infrastructure, including, but not limited to, the development of an accounting system, management procedures, and a marketing plan. Nonfinancial assistance shall also include the providing of equipment.

History.--ss. 2, 10, ch. 91-268; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 12, ch. 92-291; s. 24, ch. 2000-308.