FDACS Readies Itself for New Headquarters
With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
Have contractor, will build. There seems to be momentum for a whopper of an agricultural building here in the southeast. The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the Florida Legislature is spending $80 million in next year's state budget as part of an overall $208 million plan to build a new headquarters for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee. Moving employees from spaces currently leased to this future building on state-owned property will reportedly save more than $50 million in lease payments over the course of 30 years.
The plan was touted by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson as one of several significant victories for Florida agriculture secured during the 2024 legislative session.
Other victories, according to the Commissioner, legislation that requires Florida school districts to approve 4-H and FFA related activities as an excused absence from school and also securing $40 million to support Florida’s citrus industry through infrastructure, research, and expansion of propagation and replanting efforts.
