This week, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the $66.5 billion 2009-10 budget, preserving Florida's investment in economic development, education and public safety. This budget included many items important to the future of economic development in both Metro Orlando and the State of Florida, including:
- UCF & FIU Colleges of Medicine: Fully funded.
- Economic Development Tool Kit: $21.6 million. This includes funding for incentives such as Qualified Targeted Industries (QTI), Qualified Defense Contractors, and High Impact Performance Incentives. This also includes $500,000 for the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
- Quick Action Closing (QAC) Fund: $13.46 million.
- Road Fund: $20 million.
- Quick Response Training (QRT) Grants: $3.3 million. This is for new and expanding businesses to offset expenses for customized skills training for newly created jobs.
- Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grants: $4 million. Funds for this program are from the Employment Security Administration Trust Fund ($2 million) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ($2 million). This is double the amount allocated last year.
- Film & Entertainment Incentive: $10.8 million. This is more than double the $5 million that was allocated last year.
- Enterprise Florida Funding: $11.4 million.
- Space Florida Funding: $3.84 million.
For more information about the 2009-10 budget, please visit www.FLGov.com/budget.
