Port St. Joe approves CDBG grant applications for MLK Boulevard and Washington neighborhood center; council pledges matching funds

The Port St. Joe City Commission on April 15 voted to submit two state grant applications — one to revitalize Martin Luther King Boulevard and another to renovate the Washington neighborhood recreation complex — and approved related resolutions that pledge local matching funds.

Pat Howard, the city's grant manager, told commissioners the MLK Boulevard proposal would cover sidewalks, street paving, new lighting, landscaping, irrigation, crosswalks and burying utilities. "The bottom line is it came to a total of a little over $1,800,000," Howard said. He said the city has pledged $25,000 as a local match and that the grant request for MLK was listed at "$1,780,790." Howard said unmet needs — work on additional blocks — were listed as secondary priorities if funds remain.

Howard described the Washington Neighborhood Community Center (referred to in the meeting as the Washington Gym project) scope to include replacement windows and HVAC, stage remodeling and lighting, refinished gym flooring and new bleachers, kitchen upgrades and electrical and plumbing work. He said the project’s requested grant amount was "$1,723,660," and the city again offered a $25,000 match.

The commission opened and closed the required second public hearings on the applications during the meeting. A representative from the county and a consultant, Patrick Holligan of Fred Cox Enterprises, explained federal and state program rules, including national objective requirements tied to low- and moderate-income (LMI) area percentages. Holligan said the census data for the neighborhood served showed an LMI share above the 51 percent threshold required by the program and explained the state's 70 percent target for funds going to LMI beneficiaries.

After the public hearings, commissioners approved a set of resolutions to submit the applications and document the city’s matching funds and project objectives. The votes were recorded as unanimous.

Pat Howard outlined the grant timeline, noting state reviews typically take about four to six weeks for initial scoring and that awards and environmental reviews could take several months. "This grant will…be a couple of years out before it actually comes to fruition to get some construction done," he said.

The commission also discussed that the county anticipates funding part of the Washington project; Howard said the application lists additional museum and League Building work as unmet needs the city would pursue if more funding becomes available.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 20 25 0 6 — MLK Boulevard revitalization application: Motion by Commissioner Carey; second by Commissioner Hoffman; outcome: approved, vote recorded as 5–0. - Resolution 20 25 0 7 — MLK funding leverage (affirming matching/leverage): Motion by Commissioner Lauer; second by Mister Clanks; outcome: approved, vote recorded as 5–0. - Resolution 20 25 0 3 — Submit Washington Neighborhood Community Center application: Motion by Mister Flower; second by Commissioner Hopkins; outcome: approved, vote recorded as 5–0. - Resolution 20 25 0 4 — Washington project funding leverage: Motion by Commissioner Langston; second by Commissioner Hoffman; outcome: approved, vote recorded as 5–0. - Resolution 20 25 0 5 — Objectives of the Washington project plan: Motion by Commissioner Langston; second by Commissioner Lowery; outcome: approved, vote recorded as 5–0.

Why it matters

If funded, the MLK Boulevard project would extend sidewalks, repair pavement and bury utilities in the targeted corridor — changes the city and grant administrator said are intended to improve pedestrian safety and the commercial appearance of the corridor. The Washington project would renovate a neighborhood facility used for summer programming and community events; commissioners and staff said some repairs are needed now but that full construction would wait on grant awards and environmental review.

Next steps

Staff said they will finalize application materials, submit the packages to Florida Commerce before the extended deadline, and await state review and any required site visits. Howard advised that environmental reviews and procurement steps mean construction would likely be at least a year or two away even if awards are made within the next funding round.