Grant application information

Call to Order
Mr. Libby called the meeting to order and all Board members were present. Mr. Stacey Manning, Assistant County Attorney, was the representative from the County Attorney’s Office.

Gateway Center for the Arts – Grant Applications 06-14 & 07-15
Sandra Wilson from the Gateway Center for the Arts requested that major changes be made to the grant application funds distribution for the 06-14 and 07-15 ECHO grants awarded.  After a significant amount of questioning by the ECHO Advisory Board, a motion was made to approve the Budget changes as requested by the Gateway Center for the Arts.  Mr. Rigsby made the motion and Mr. Rudolph seconded.  The vote to approve was unanimous. 

Cultural Arts Center (08-14) and the Florida Museum of Art (08-20) Grant Applications
The Application Guide (p.14) states:

No more than one application for the same facility complex, project, site, or phase will be accepted in a grant cycle regardless of the number of applicant organizations. No project or facility complex may receive more than one Exceptional grant award through the life of the ECHO program if awarded the maximum allowed for an Exceptional Grant.

Margaret Hodge explained that this limitation was incorporated into the ECHO Program to prevent a non-profit from issuing multiple grant applications for the same facility/project that would total over the maximum standard grant (currently $600,000) with a 1:1 match instead of the 4:1 match that is required for an exception grant (up to $1,000,000 / year for 3 years or $3,000,000).  Since both of the independent 501(c)(3) organizations discussed work out of the same facility but are two (2) separate organizations with two (2) separate boards, this would appear to prevent both of these organizations from being eligible to apply for an ECHO grant in the same year.   

Mr. Libby requested that Stacey Manning, Assistant County Attorney, read that section of the guide and give his judgment regarding the ability of these two organizations to apply for an ECHO grant the same year.  Mr. Manning agreed with the interpretation of the Board and stated that the paragraph would have to be modified and approved by both the ECHO Board and the County Council before both of the Grants would be eligible.  When Mr. Libby requested Mr. Manning draft a resolution, he stated: 

It is recommended that Staff be directed to propose changes to expanding the language to be applicable only beyond the maximum cap dollar requirements of $600,000 and holding the two applications in abeyance until that determination is made by the County Council. 

Mr. Rigsby made the motion as drafted by Mr. Manning and Mr. Sixma seconded the motion.  After much additional discussion, the Board unanimously voted to approve the motion. 

At 4:10 PM, Mr. Sixma made a motion to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by Mr. Rudolph.  The motion passed unanimously.