NATIONAL BRIEFING / FLORIDA
TIMES WIRE REPORTS
St. Lucie County declared a state of economic emergency, authorizing $25 million to $30 million for new construction projects -- on condition that largely local labor and supplies be used -- in hopes of jump-starting a sorely distressed local economy.
The National Assn. of Counties said it knew of no other U.S. county that was contemplating such a move.
The county has an overall jobless rate of 12.8%. In the construction industry, it is as high as 40%.
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