Funding panel releases scores, TDC will recommend funding

Although Historic City News readers will not know the amounts of funding, if any, that each will be awarded, the ACH Funding Panel heard 3-minute updates from 40 organizations who are vying for a share of millions of dollars collected each year in tourist development tax, for their arts, cultural and heritage facilities, enhancement programs and re-enactments, development of new programs as well as funding for ongoing programs.

The Panel, appointed by the St Johns County Board of Commissioners, previously evaluated and recommended funding levels for Category II funds to the Tourist Development Council — a volunteer board, also appointed by the Commission.  After critical failures under supervision of the St Johns Cultural Council, the Council revoked that responsibility from the lower Panel; amid allegations of arbitrary, widely-varying assessments, favoritism, and lack of overall integrity in the process.

This year’s applicants, who made the April application deadline, began meeting with the new funding panel members, Wednesday. July 9 at 9:00 a.m. in the St. Johns County Auditorium.  Panel members had the opportunity to ask questions before each application was scored.  Each applicant was required to have a representative available to answer questions from the panel.

Applicants requested a total of $950,000 in funding for the 40 projects; however, Hastings said that it “is not likely” that they will each be fully funded at those levels.  The Tourist Development Council will hear the scores at their meeting on July 21st, but they will not make the decision on who-will-get-what.  Rather, they will use the scores to determine what they feel is appropriate funding, and then send those recommendations on to the five-member elected Board of County Commissioners.

The scores, organized from all categories from highest rated to lowest, follow:

COSA – 450TH COMMISSION- CELEBRATE 450!	95.8
COSAB – BEACH BLASTOFF	93.8
FL HERITAGE BOOK FESTIVAL	93.2
FLAGLER COLLEGE -FIRST AMERICA	92.2
FL LITERARY ARTS COALITION – OTHER WORDS	91.0
COSA – TAPESTRY	90.8
BRITISH NIGHTWATCH	90.8
SJ CHAMBER – PV AUTO SHOW	90.6
LIGHTNER MUSEUM	90.6
COSA – FIRST CITY THROUGH EYES OF THE MASTERS	90.4
SA LIGHTHOUSE AND MUSEUM	89.8
FIRST COAST OPERA – CRYSTAL CONCERT	89.4
ROMANZA – CELTIC FESTIVAL	89.0
SA FILM FESTIVAL	88.6
COSA – CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA	88.6
SA ART ASSOCIAITON – A&C FESTIVAL	88.6
HISTORIC FLORIDA MILITIA – SCHOOL OF THE 16TH CENTURY	88.4
EMMA – ZUCKERMAN/MOSCOW	88.2
SA MARITIME HERITAGE FESTIVAL	88.2
EMMA – FIESTA 450TH	87.8
HISTORIC FLORIDA MILITIA – CHANGING OF THE GUARD	87.0
LIMELIGHT THEATRE	87.0
LIMELIGHT THEATRE – 450 THEATRE CELEBRATION	86.6
SA BEACH – MUSIC BY THE SEA	86.6
EPIC – TASTE OF SA	86.4
SA HISTORIC INNS  – B&B TOUR	86.0
HOLY TRINITY -GREEK FESTIVAL	85.8
CULTURAL CENTER PV BEACH	85.2
ROMANZA – ST PATRICK PARADE	83.8
SA ART ASSOCIATION – NATURE AND WILDLIFE	83.6
ROMANZA – 4TH ANNUAL FESTIVALE	83.4
EASTER PARADE	82.2
MIDDLE PASSAGE/PORT MARKER	82.2
SA BEACH – BBQ & BLUES	80.0
FRIENDS OF SA AMPHITHEATER – CHILDREN’S ART FESATIVAL	80.0
SA MUSIC FESTIVAL	79.8
SA YACHT CLUB – HOLIDAY REGATTA	79.6
SEA -RAILS TO TRAILS FESTIVAL	76.6
FL CHAMBER MUSIC PROJECT	76.2
STAR – PASEO PASTEL	75.6