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FAPA e-NEWS and NOTES: Special Issue
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In This Issue:
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October 1, 2003
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Dear Fellow Floridian,
I would like to share with you the most recent details concerning the merger of the Department of Community Affairs and the Department of State.
As you know, in recent months members of the DCA and DOS have been traveling statewide, meeting with you, our constituents, to gain a better understanding of how our two departments are very similar, and at the same time different. We have spent many hours listening to your thoughts and suggestions so that we may better serve your needs.
One of the most fundamental ideas has been to streamline the programs that both DCA and DOS provide, while maintaining the level of assistance offered. In addition, it has often been brought to Secretary Hood's and my attention that taking the time to carefully map out the new direction of the many programs that we offer is imperative.
We believe this is sound advice. Therefore, we will take the next year to develop the details necessary to merge the two agencies, with our goal to introduce legislation during the 2005 Legislative Session. Over this next year, we will continue working through the details of the merger with agencies and constituents to ensure our end result will truly be a better product for all communities across the state.
We will streamline the grants process, simplifying both the methods of DCA and DOS to create a universal application that can be utilized by any state agency that offers community grants. We plan to organize outreach efforts so those with limited resources have the technical assistance at hand to write successful grants. And, we aim to further coordinate the grant review process so those applying for grants can also be made aware of other programs for which they are eligible. It is through these processes, beginning in the next few months, that we will become a better resource for you, our constituents. In addition, we will work closely with DOS to create an inventory of existing state community grant programs that could fall under the new agency.
For those of you wondering what else we have learned while traveling around the state, the final report on the constituency meetings is being prepared and will be available in December.
In the meantime, we will continue to aim for excellence when serving Florida’s communities.
Throughout the year we will identify synergies beyond those we have already found to exist within DCA and DOS. We will strive to educate every Floridian on the links between historic and archaeological preservation, cultural arts, growth management, libraries, environmental protection, land use, tourism, and economic development. We will research and formulate plans to simplify our programs, while making them more easily accessible to our customers. And, we will continue to lay the groundwork as both DCA and DOS strive to become a "one-stop shopping" service for all of Florida's communities.
Governor Bush, Secretary Hood and I are committed to improving the state's interaction with communities and the merger of these two agencies. It is through our continued dedication as an agency that we will be able to see this goal to fruition.
Sincerely,
Secretary Castille
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