Business growth cuts surprise officials

In a move that surprised local economic development officials, Gov. Rick Scott eliminated $2.5 million in state funding for two programs aimed at promoting business growth.

The $2 million cut Thursday to the budget for the University of Central Florida’s GrowFL economic gardening program and $500,000 cut to the statewide Small Business Development Centers program were among the more than $615 million in funding for projects throughout the state the Scott vetoed before signing a $69.1 billion budget.

UCF officials involved in administering the GrowFL program will meet next week to evaluate how the reduction in its budget will affect their efforts.

By VALERIE WHITNEY

Full Story: http://www.news-journalonline.com/business/local-business/2011/05/28/business-growth-cuts-surprise-officials.html

(Many thanks to Chris Gibbons who wrote: "I just read this; I am uncertain what the impact will be. Both houses of
the Florida legislature had approved permanent funding and the governor had
run on a jobs program. Florida companies in the program are shocked." for sending this in.)