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Foundation seeks county support for Florida Museum of Black History planning and fundraising
Summary
The Foundation for the Museum of Black History asked the board to direct staff to look at funding options and requested $125,000 from St. Johns County for capacity building to support statewide fundraising and planning; the state has provided $2 million for planning.
The Foundation for the Museum of Black History presented a request to the board to support capacity building ahead of a capital campaign to build a regional museum campus in West Augustine.
A foundation representative identified the project as a campus concept: a 40,000-square-foot performing arts center, a 40,000-square-foot museum and a 20,000-square-foot events and education building (total roughly 100,000 square feet). The foundation said the state has allocated $2 million for planning and design and that private fundraising and regional partnerships are needed to supplement construction funds that could run in the neighborhood of $100 million to $150 million depending on cost inflation.
The foundation asked the county to consider a $125,000 contribution to begin capacity building (fundraising consultant, part-time engagement staff and planning studies) that would allow the foundation to launch a capital fundraising campaign once enabling legislation and future state appropriations are finalized. The foundation noted the museum is intended to serve statewide audiences and is expected to produce substantial regional visitation in other models cited.
Commissioners expressed support for continued staff work to identify funding options and asked county staff to return with recommendations before any commitment of county funds.
What comes next: staff will evaluate funding options and return with a recommendation to the board for potential county support in capacity building and fundraising.
