• The Toolkit for Economic Development is an innovative approach for linking the many federal and state programs that support economic development in distressed communities. 
• However, the Toolkit’s implementation has been delayed because it does not have an adequate administrative structure.  As a result, its future success may be compromised.  It is also likely that only a small portion of the initiative’s $25 million appropriation will be expended or obligated before its spending authority expires at the end of Fiscal Year 2000-01.
• To increase the likelihood that the Toolkit will realize its potential to improve conditions in distressed communities, a single entity should be given responsibility for overseeing the initiative.  The entity should be responsible for developing an implementation plan, monitoring projects, and evaluating the long-term effects of the initiative.

What other OPPAGA-related materials are available?

• Report No. 05-32 OPPAGA Report: Locals Find State Urban Revitalization Programs Useful; More Centralized Program Information Would Be Helpful, published in May 2005.
• Report No. 03-20 Progress Report: OPPAGA Recommendation Adopted; Economic Development Toolkit Was Implemented, published in March 2003.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by telephone (850/488-0021), by FAX (850/487-9213), in person, or by mail (OPPAGA Report Production, Claude Pepper Building, Room 312, 111 W. Madison St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475).
e-mail address: oppaga@oppaga.fl.gov