[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1944-E1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SOUTH DADE/HOMESTEAD MOTORSPORTS EXHIBITION CENTER

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                           HON. PETER DEUTSCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 21, 1996

  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues from south 
Florida in support of a new, significant economic development project 
which is planned for Homestead, FL. This project involves the 
establishment of a Motorsports Exhibition and Education Center as part 
of the existing South Dade/Homestead Motorsports Complex.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Homestead and South Dade County experienced 
extreme damage from Hurricane Andrew which destroyed countless homes 
and businesses. In the years since the hurricane, we in south Florida 
have worked hard to restore and revitalize the economy of this 
community. It takes a true partnership of government and business to 
make such an economic recovery. The Motorsports Exhibition Center is an 
example of such a partnership. The city of Homestead and a number of 
businesses involved in the Motorsports Speedway have joined together in 
a nonprofit foundation to seek funding for establishment of the 
exhibition center which is expected to draw some half million tourists 
to the Motorsports Complex each year. The project will create hundreds 
of jobs throughout the South Dade area.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of Homestead has indicated that it plans to 
approach the Economic Development Administration [EDA] for partial 
funding of the Exhibition Center. We are hopeful that the agency will 
move expeditiously to review the project so that it may consider 
funding in fiscal year 1997.

[[Page E1945]]

  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for the job that 
EDA has been doing in Florida and around the country in addressing 
local economic development needs. I look forward to working with the 
EDA officials in our region on the Motorsports Exhibition Center 
project.

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