Rural Economic
Development Initiative
(REDI)
What is REDI?
REDI is a multi-agency
initiative, led and coordinated
by the Office of Tourism,
Trade & Economic
Development, which assists
rural communities solve
problems that affect their
fiscal, economic or
community viability.
Who is REDI?
Participating Agencies
Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services
 Department of Children and Families
 Department of Community Affairs
 Department of Corrections
 Department of Education
 Department of Environmental
Protection

Participating Agencies
Department of Health
 Department of State
 Department of Transportation
 Agency for Health Care
Administration
 Agency for Workforce Innovation
 Office of Tourism, Trade and
Economic Development
 Area Health Education Centers

Participating Agencies
Enterprise Florida, Inc.
 Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Commission
 Florida Association of Counties
 Florida League of Cities
 Florida State Rural Development
Council

Participating Agencies
Institute of Food and Agriculture
Sciences
 Regional Planning Councils
 Visit Florida, Inc.
 Water Management Districts
 Workforce Florida, Inc.
 U.S.D.A. –Rural Development


What does REDI
do?
Responds to
specific community
needs and requests
for assistance

Responds to specific community needs and
requests for assistance.

Provides direct access and
referrals to appropriate
state agencies as well as
county and city
associations.

Responds to specific community needs
and requests for assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to
appropriate state agencies as well as
county and city associations.

 Reviews
and evaluates the
impact of statutes and rules
on rural communities and
works to minimize adverse
impact.
Responds to specific community needs and requests for
assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state
agencies as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on
rural communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Works with communities to
improve their rural economies;
finding ways to balance
environmental and growth
management issues with local
needs.

Responds to specific community needs and requests for
assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state
agencies as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules
on rural communities and works to minimize adverse
impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural
economies; finding ways to balance environmental and
growth management issues with local needs.

Assists communities in improving
access to housing, health care, and
educational opportunities.

Responds to specific community needs and requests
for assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state
agencies as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules
on rural communities and works to minimize adverse
impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural
economies; finding ways to balance environmental and
growth management issues with local needs.

Assists communities in improving access to housing,
health care, and educational opportunities.

Recommends Rural Areas of Critical
Economic Concern for Governor’s
Approval.

Responds to specific community needs and requests for
assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state
agencies as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on
rural communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural economies;
finding ways to balance environmental and growth
management issues with local needs.

Assists communities in improving access to housing, health
care, and educational opportunities.

Recommends Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern for
Governor’s Approval.

Recommends waivers of provisions
of economic development programs
on a project by project basis.

Responds to specific community needs and requests for assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state agencies
as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on rural
communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural economies; finding
ways to balance environmental and growth management issues with
local needs.

Assists communities in improving access to housing, health care,
and educational opportunities.

Recommends Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern for
Governor’s Approval.

Recommends waivers of provisions of economic development
programs on a project by project basis.

Co-sponsors an annual conference
for rural community leaders.

Responds to specific community needs and requests for
assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state agencies
as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on rural
communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural economies; finding
ways to balance environmental and growth management issues with
local needs.

Assists communities in improving access to housing, health care,
and educational opportunities.

Recommends Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern for
Governor’s Approval.

Recommends waivers of provisions of economic development
programs on a project by project basis.

Co-sponsors an annual conference for rural community leaders.

Conducts the Rural Community of
the Year award program

Responds to specific community needs and requests for
assistance.

Provides direct access and referrals to appropriate state agencies
as well as county and city associations.

Reviews and evaluates the impact of statutes and rules on rural
communities and works to minimize adverse impact.

Works with communities to improve their rural economies;
finding ways to balance environmental and growth management
issues with local needs.

Assists communities in improving access to housing, health care,
and educational opportunities.

Recommends Rural Areas of Critical Economic Concern for
Governor’s Approval.

Recommends waivers of provisions of economic development
programs on a project by project basis.

Co-sponsors an annual conference for rural community leaders.

Conducts the Rural Community of the Year award program.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CONTACT:
Mary Helen Blakeslee, Coordinator/ Rural Economic
Development Initiative
Suite 2001, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
850/922-8743 Fax: 850/487-3014
Email: maryhelen.blakeslee@myflorida.com
Or
The Florida Resource Directory
www.floridaresourcedirectory.org
Rural Economic
Development
Initiative
(REDI)