Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grant Terms And Cultural Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
ECHO committee votes to recommend 20-year grant terms; members debate cultural funding and restrictive covenants
Summary
The ECHO Advisory Committee voted to recommend that County Council shorten some grant restrictive covenants to 20 years; members also discussed cultural funding changes, the shift to project-based grants, and concerns about supplanting existing funding streams.
The Volusia County ECHO Advisory Committee voted to recommend that County Council change certain grant terms to 20 years during its meeting.
A committee member moved that the advisory body recommend shortening review/term lengths that had previously included 40-year periods to 20-year grants; another member seconded the motion. Committee members discussed that some existing grants have 30-year restrictive covenants and that the program historically included terms as long as 40 years. The motion was put to a voice vote and the chair announced, "Motion carries."
During committee comment, members said the County's cultural-grant process has shifted from budget- and operations-based awards to program- and project-based funding, and that organizations are struggling to adapt. One member noted there were 32 applications in the current cycle and suggested the committee consider setting aside funding for cultural organizations similar to the county's annual $1.5 million direct allocation to the trail system. Another member cautioned that attempting to supplant traditional funding sources could open a "Pandora's box."
The advisory committee's vote was a recommendation to County Council; the committee does not have authority to change grant contract terms unilaterally. The committee did not identify an implementation pathway or an exact amendment ordinance; staff and the County Council will determine whether to act on the recommendation.
