City Commissioners Approve Changes to Downtown Events and Grants Program
Gainesville City Commissioners approved several changes to the Downtown Events and Grants program on Thursday with recommendations from the Downtown Advisory Board (DAB).
The Downtown Events and Grants program is currently in its pilot phase. The program was approved by the Gainesville City Commission on May 2, 2024.
Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA) Project Manager Daniel Blumberg gave the commissioners a presentation on the grant program.
Blumberg announced that City Manager Cynthia Curry extended the pilot phase of the Downtown Events and Grants program until June 30, 2025, with $30,000 in funds remaining from the program in fiscal year 2024.
Blumberg said, “On February 18, the GCRA evaluation committee met and has recommended seven of the applicants receive funding. We had eight applicants at that time, but we only had $30,000 in funds. The first six of them would be receiving full amounts, and the seventh applicant would be receiving the balance of what was available. Those applications will be sent to the city manager for final approval shortly.”
DAB recommended grants be reduced from 100% grants to 50% matching grants. This means an organization receiving $5,000 in funds will have to pay back $2,500.
Under the pilot program, events with grant funding must be held in city-owned spaces like Bo Diddley Plaza and the Streatery. Under the changes, 51% of the events will be held in public spaces while 49% of the events can be held in privately owned spaces as long as there is substantial public access.
Blumberg said, “Previously, the program did value $25 an hour for volunteers. Per the recommendation from our advisory board, we have removed that from the program.”
Under the changes, organizations will receive more funding for longer and larger events. There will be increased eligibility requirements to secure grant funding.
GCRA will create a tier system among grant applicants. Applicants in Tier 2 will receive 20% more in funding than applicants in Tier 1.
Applicants will be required to answer questions about how their event will positively promote the city of Gainesville and uphold equity and sustainability.
Under the pilot program, the City of Gainesville didn't conduct post-event analysis on grant recipients. Under the changes, organizations will be required to provide budgetary information and ideas for how to make their event better in future iterations.
Grant recipients will now be required to publicly state that the City of Gainesville and GCRA are sponsors for their event and adhere to their advertising requirements.
Commissioner Bryan Eastman asked for a list of events that are being funded.
Blumberg responded, “The Bull is going to be [at the Streatery] on St. Patrick’s Day....Words Off the Paper will be at the Hippodrome on March 22 and March 23.... The How Bazar event is at the Streatery on April 5.... Dion Dia Records will be at SW 2nd St on April 11.... The Red Mantle will be at the Hippodrome on April 18.... The Bailey Learning and Arts Collective will be at the Streatery on May 3.... Carolyn's Heart Inc. will be at Bo Diddley Plaza on May 10. Those are the ones that would be receiving funding for the $30,000.”
Eastman said, “One of the main things that came up last time was the decision of whether they should be in public spaces vs. private spaces with substantial public access. Why was that change made in this consideration?"
Daniel Blumberg talks to the city commission about the Downtown Events and Grants program (City of Gainesville public meetings page)
Blumberg responded, “I will give an example. One of the applicants applied to do an interactive wall. They wanted to do it in coordination with the How Bazar’s BIG [Culture and Arts Festival] event near Porters. The interactive wall would’ve been near the Knot, and they needed funds to put that wall up. That was in the parking lot of the Knot so that was in private property. It would’ve had public access, but because of the way the program is written, we couldn’t supply the grant funds…. This is to allow a means for us to support events like that.
During public comment, Greater Bethel AME Church Pastor Ron Rawles said, “Some of us in the community feel in many instances the goalposts are moved as the game goes along. If you have the opportunity to see a wise decision…. If you see the opportunity to correct something upfront as opposed to down the road, it might help you avoid the impression that when we apply, the goalpost gets moved. Take the time, get the work done, and make sure it looks fair and equitable upfront.”
Pastor Rawles asks the city to be equitable when choosing grant recipients (City of Gainesville public meetings page)
Commissioner Bryan Eastman made a motion to “approve the Downtown Events and Grants program, leave all Tier 2 events with the DAB recommendations, place 51% of the events in Tier 1 in publicly owned spaces, and refer back to the GCRA and the DAB recommendations on enhancing youth programming downtown."
The commissioners approved the motion unanimously with Commissioner James Ingle absent.
Applications for Tier 1 grant funding will open on May 1.
