REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

A Quarterly Publication of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council

Winter 1998

"BIRDING" IN THE ORIGINAL FLORIDA'S HIDDEN COAST

Birding in the United States is an $81 billion business and the Hidden Coast is gearing up to cash in on this bonanza April 4-5, 1998, when it hosts the "First Annual Florida's Hidden Coast Birdfest."

Over 140 species of birds migrate through Florida every year as they travel between North America and the tropical areas of Central and South America. Many of the species as well as resident birds can be viewed in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge which embraces over 50,000 acres of vast wildlands in Dixie and Levy counties.

A number of citizen volunteers and local and state agencies have been involved in the planning of the annual event which will be part of an overall program of economic revitalization for Dixie, Levy, and Taylor counties. Scheduled activities include guided tours of birding sites plus guided biking and kayak/canoe trips. For more details, look up The Original Florida Homepage @ http://OriginalFlorida.org or contact W.D. Higginbotham, Jr. at 800/226-0690, ext. 106, (email to higginbotham@ncfrpc.org).

TWO-WHEELED TOURING OF THE ORIGINAL FLORIDA

One of the fastest-growing recreational activities both nationwide and locally is bicycling. In fact, rallies and other annual bicycle events which offer safe and scenic routes will draw participants from all over the country.

In support of its efforts to promote tourism in the region, the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council (Council) recently entered into a contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to develop a bicycle plan for The Original Florida region. The plan will inventory existing on-road bicycle facilities, and identify federal, state, county and municipal roads that would be needed to establish a fully interconnected region-wide bicycle system.

(Continued on Page 4)

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES Winter 1998   Page 2

HOW TO SAVE A BUNDLE WITH AN ADCO 504 LOAN

Interest rates are at attractive levels with 20-year fixed rates on ADCO's loan amount averaging 8.18%. When combined with rates typical throughout north central Florida, borrowers have benefited from average interest rates for the entire project financing of between 8.0% and 8.5%.

Most businesses in ADCO's 12-county service area are eligible for ADCO's 504 loan program. Examples of businesses financed to date include commercial printers, physician's and dental offices, funeral homes, day cares, restaurants, motels, and wholesale distributors.

The types of projects financed by ADCO are real estate purchases, expansions, or construction, and equipment purchases. The project to be financed must be used by the business in its daily operations. The minimum project size that is feasible for businesses under ADCO's loan program is $250,000. The maximum project size is $3,500,000.

The building shown in the photographs is an example of a successful project. This project involved the purchase of property, the construction of the building, and installation of equipment vital to the business. Other projects financed through ADCO have been for purchases of existing buildings with some involving renovation and others involving installation of equipment from an previous location.

(Continued on Page 3)

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES Winter 1998   Page 3

PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

The North Central Florida Economic Development Partnership is nearing completion of an 8-page brochure which highlights both natural and man-made amenities available to those industries locating in the 11-county region. This colorful brochure (lots of great pictures) also includes one-page data sheets on each of the

counties as a quick reference guide for businesses interested in locating or expanding their operations in north central Florida. The brochure is scheduled to be available by late March, 1998.

As noted in the fall issue of the Perspective, the Partnership accepted responsibility of overseeing the coastal counties (The Original Florida's Hidden Coast) economic development program funded by a grant from The Ford Foundation. Recent events include the completion of a Community Land-based Shellfish Aquaculture Nursery Facility.

The nursery facility was made possible by a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with matching funds or in-kind services coming from the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, and the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Additionally, the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners approved the use of the Dixie County Boat Ramp property in Horseshoe Beach for the construction and operation of the nursery facility.

Up to twelve farmers will be able to use the facility at one time. Each user will have the capacity of nursing about 300,000 seed over a 1 to 2 month period. The operation period of the facility will be about 9 months a year. As such, a maximum of 72 farmers could potentially use the facility annually, resulting in over 20 million clam seed being nursed.

(How To Save a Bundle Continued)

ADCO is off to a strong first quarter for FY1998 with four loan approvals, totaling $4.3 million in projects. ADCO's financing portion amounted to $1.75 million. Great expectations are in place for FY1998 with a goal of obtaining financing for projects with total costs of $18.7 million.

More information regarding ADCO's loan program can be found on ADCO's homepage @ http://adco.org, or contact A. Blake Harper, Director of Business Finance at (352) 955 - 2199, ext. 107, or email him at harper@adco.org

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES Winter 1998   Page 4

(Two-Wheeled Touring Continued)

If the Council is successful in obtaining a second year grant, the final product will consist of two parts. The product of the first year will be a set of regional and sub-regional maps of the region-wide bicycle system, while the second year's effort will result in a Needed Facilities Assessment and Implementation (Bicycle) Plan.

More on the plan will be forthcoming in future editions of the Perspective.

North Central Florida
Regional Planning Council
2009 NW 67 Place, Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32653-1603

OFFICERS

Charles S. Chestnut, III
Chairman

D. Thomas Sawyer
Vice-Chairman

Dale McPherson
Secretary-Treasurer

Charles F. Justice
Executive Director

Charles L. Kiester
Assistant Executive Director
  and Editor