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M ® M DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS On November 8, 1994, the voters of Florida enacted a constitutional amendment banning commercial net fishing in Florida waters. Since the net ban became effective on July 1, 1995, the ban has had an adverse economic impact on -many Florida residents and their families, as well as on several Florida communities. In an effort to address the effects of the •net ban amendment, Governor Lawton Chiles initiated a process for the establishment of Local Fishing Community Revitalization Teams in counties affected by the net ban. To begin this processand effectively coordinate available resources, the Department of Labor developed an application for state assistance in the form of a Revitalization Guide for the Enhancement of Economic Conditions for Counties Affected by the Net Ban. This application was sent to affected counties. On July 11, 1995, the Board of County Commissioners established and appointed members to Indian River County's Local Fishing Community Revitalization Team. The team's purpose was to: assess the economic and social impacts of the net ban,, -establish a vision with goals and objectives, develop long term and short term solutions to employment opportunities for displaced fishermen and fishhouse workers, and complete a Revitalization Guide application to make the County eligible for state assistance. On September 7, 1995, the revitalization team unanimously recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve the Revitalization Guide application. Analysis The Indian River County Fishing Community Revitalization Team was formed to complete the Revitalization Guide application for state supported assistance. Comprised of a county commissioner, members of the fishing community, representatives from the Treasure Coast Private Industry Council, Florida Sea Grant, the United Way, State Senator Charles Sembler's office, a local bank, the agricultural extension services, SCORE, a labor economist, and a business analyst, the team's responsibility was to complete the Revitalization Guide application for State financial support, provide informational assistance to displaced fishermen, local fishhouse workers and their families, and assess feasible employment opportunities for people affected by the net ban amendment. A copy of the draft Revitalization Guide application is on file in the Board of County Commissioners office. The application is divided into three sections. Section one describes the current conditions of the county, identifies Sebastian, Wabasso, and Roseland as communities affected by the net ban within the county, and provides an estimate of the projected effect that the net ban will have on the county and the communities identified above. Section 2 of the application provides details of the issues that the county and affected communities must address to support revitalization and economic growth. Some of the issues addressed include: infrastructure, services, and development and promotion of community resources. Section 3 of the.application contains a community vision and a set of goals and objectives to achieve the vision. Included in this section is a list of the support services required to assist the affected fishermen and fishhouse workers and their families and an 85 BOOK 96 Phu 180 September 19, 1995