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Red Bank accepts $21,000 Saudi Daisy grant, approves first‑reading budget amendment and pursues T‑Mobile mural funding
Summary
The city accepted a $21,000 grant from the Red Bank Saudi Daisy Charitable Foundation to fund two public‑art projects, approved an ordinance on first reading to appropriate the funds, and authorized an application to T‑Mobile’s hometown grants program for up to $50,000.
The City of Red Bank accepted a $21,000 grant from the Red Bank Saudi Daisy Charitable Foundation and approved a first‑reading ordinance to appropriate the funds for public art, city officials said. The commission also authorized an application to the T‑Mobile Hometown Grants program for up to $50,000 toward a shovel‑ready public art project.
Patricia Baker and Becky Browder, representing the Red Bank Saudi Daisy Charitable Foundation, presented the grant to the commission. "All grant funds are to be used for projects that would benefit all citizenry as a whole and not just a small group of individuals," Baker said. Baker said Red Bank has received $1,070,627 from the foundation since 1991.
The foundation awarded $21,000 this year to support either a small‑scale mural at the Kids Corner restaurant building (a $7,000 small project) or a large‑scale mural on the city‑owned retaining wall on Morrison Springs Road across from Food City. City staff told the commission the public art advisory board selected a small‑scale park mural artist via an RFP and expected an artist contract within roughly 30 days. The remaining $14,000 of the foundation grant will be used in support of the city’s application to the T‑Mobile grant as a demonstration of partnership and other funding sources.
Director Johnson explained the T‑Mobile Hometown Grants program and its requirements: "Shovel ready means that there is no acquisition of property. There is no construction of property, nor can you use the funds toward engineering services, or towards staff payroll," she said. Johnson said the T‑Mobile funds are competitive, up to $50,000 per project, and are intended for projects that can be completed within 12 months.
Commissioners voted to authorize the city manager to submit the T‑Mobile application (Resolution No. 25‑1769) and to approve first reading of Ordinance No. 25‑1272 to amend the FY25 operating budget to appropriate the $21,000 donation. The ordinance passed on first reading by roll call; commissioners voted to carry the motion on first reading.
Director Johnson added that the application deadline for the quarter is March 15 and that T‑Mobile provides feedback if an application is not successful, allowing applicants to reapply in later quarters. The city will use the foundation funds as part of a partnership package to strengthen the T‑Mobile application and to fund the small‑scale mural project regardless of the T‑Mobile result.
Next steps include finalizing the artist contract for the small park mural, submitting the T‑Mobile application before the March 15 deadline, and, if awarded, implementing the large‑scale mural on Morrison Springs Road in coordination with the public art advisory board.
