Atlantic Beach ARC Committee outlines grant rules, deadlines and Q&A

Amanda Askew, Neighborhoods Department Director, reviewed the City of Atlantic Beach Arts, Recreation and Cultural (ARC) Committee grant program on the committee's behalf and answered applicants’ questions about eligibility, funding and the application process.

"The City of Atlantic Beach has this wonderful grant program," Askew said, describing the program's purpose as funding "events, recreation, and items that lead to cultural enrichment." She told attendees the program does not fund operational programs or facility improvements and said, "This year, schools are not eligible to apply for this grant," noting that schools, when funded, are supported directly through the City Commission.

Askew said there is a maximum award "up to $5,000" and that the total each applicant receives will depend on how many applications the ARC Committee receives and how the committee scores proposals. She said staff will screen applications for eligibility, notify semifinalists, and require semifinalists to attend a mandatory presentation on Aug. 26 in 15-minute increments, during which the committee will ask questions.

During the public Q&A, resident Martha Duke asked whether events must be free or whether they could be donation-based. "Is there any requirement for the events to be free? Or can there be donations?" she asked. Askew replied, "There can be donations," and added that past allocations have tended to favor nonprofit organizations; any donations would go to the applicant organization, not to the city.

Duke also asked whether rental fees for venues such as the Adele Grange community center are covered by the grant; Askew said applicants should include venue rental costs in their project budgets and that staff will try to work with recipients on scheduling. A committee member cautioned that Saturdays and certain dates may already be booked and urged applicants to check venue calendars early.

On budgeting questions Askew clarified that the budget requested on the application should describe the proposed program's costs, not the entire organization's or LLC's full-budget. For marketing materials, Askew said past promotional material is useful but that applicants who lack past examples may submit mockups; she added that the city will partner to promote awarded events on its website and social media.

Several attendees reported a problem with the online form compressing text into a single line. Askew said she would follow up with IT and collect contact information after the meeting to resolve the issue. She also said a list of past grantees exists and that staff could provide it on request.

Karen Frosio, with Revive Joy, asked about letters of support; a committee member said letters may serve as character references from people who can vouch for an applicant's reliability. On submitting multiple applications, Askew said organizations have previously received more than one grant when proposals covered distinct programs.

Askew closed by directing follow-up questions to Jordan Leslie (contact listed in the packet) and reminding attendees that the meeting was recorded and available on the city's website. The application went live June 15, has a firm deadline of July 27 and does not accept late submissions.