Agenda Item Name:
Title
Request Approval for the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo to Reallocate and Extend Previously Awarded Grant Funding
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Presenter:
Jessica Hurov
Description:
The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo has requested an extension and revision to previously awarded grant funding. During the past 15 months, the zoo has not been hosting a full complement of visitors and activities. They have established a plan to fully reopen in the upcoming months, and in addition to ongoing promotion of the zoo’s tourism-generating activities, the request is to approve a revised scope of activities, including: Rock the Zoo; Party for the Planet - Earth Day; Tree Kangaroo Awareness Day - May 29, 2022; Zookeeper Day; and Natural Beauty; and to support the operation and marketing of these activities with their Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant funding. The Santa Fe Zoo is the only zoo in Alachua County, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), recognizing the excellence that the zoo brings to Alachua County.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the use of previously awarded grant funding to support the allowable marketing and operations expenses for the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo to resume programming new events. Authorize staff to carry-forward funding originally awarded in FY20, to support the zoo’s revised scope of activities and events for FY22 and authorize the County Manger to sign an any amendment to the grant award or agreement related to this approval
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Prior Board Motions:
September 10, 2019 - Approval of the $31,203 funding award.
April 28, 2020 - Approval of an extension due to the restrictions and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an additional year for the funding award to be utilized.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$31,203 was previously approved as the award for FY20 and $31,203 remains available on PO 2020-1233; Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Fund 006.45.4540.552.82.61.
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Background:
In order to support and enhance Alachua County as a culturally interesting and vibrant destination, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has allocated a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue to aid in the operations and promotions of arts, cultural, and nature events that have, as one of their main purposes, the attraction of tourists as evidenced by the promotion of the event to tourists through the Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant program. In February 2020, the County and the Santa Fe College Foundation, Inc. entered into a Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grant Program Agreement. If this agenda item is approved, the Agreement will be amended to extend the term until September 30, 2022.