Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #163 Okaloosa Regional Agricultural Facility
Requester:	Gerald Edmondson		Organization:		Okaloosa County Extension Service/County Agent
Project Title:	Okaloosa Regional Agricultural Facility		Date Submitted:		01/20/2000 10:53:38 AM
District Member:	W.D. Childers		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Okaloosa
Recipient:	Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners		Contact:		Gerald Edmondson
	101 East James Lee Boulevard		Contact Phone:		(850) 689-5850
	Crestview 32536
Project Description:
Regional Agricultural facility and farmers' market to serve Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
1) A facility for citizens to seek resources and information for the Extension Service and USDA agencies. 2)Agriculture contributes about $12 million per year to the local economy. USDA agencies provide $5 million annually to the agricultural sector and local communities. It is vital that support be maintained for the agricultural sector in this regional area. 3)A farmers' market in the Crestview area will provide a much needed outlet for lcoally grown agricultural commodities. Many producers are looking at alternative crops and niche crops due to to the low prices of traditional row crops. This facility will provide a much needed location for local producers to get their products to local consumers.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
As a result of this funding the citizens of Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties will have assistance in expanding domestic commerce, enhancing natural resources, have access to safe and affordable food, enhancing community development, improving their health and well being through access to a sustainable food and fiber system. Establishment of a farmers' market will provide a regional facility fo rproducers to direct market locally produced agricultural commoditieis. This is vital to the health and sustainability of the agricultural sector in Northwest Florida.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$1,600,000
Total cost of the project:		$2,200,000

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					Yes
				In-Kind Amount:	$600,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					Yes
	Agency:	Agriculture And Consumer Services, Department Of, And Commissioner Of Agriculture
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					Yes
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Minutes of meetings of Citizen Advisory Committees, County and Local Government
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					Yes
	Hearing Body:	Okaloosa County Commission
	Meeting Date:	09/21/1999