Background
The Florida Department of State accepted applications for the African-American Cultural and Historical (AACH) grant program from October 11 through November 30, 2021.
The purpose of this $30 million grant program is to provide funding for construction projects at facilities in Florida that highlight the contributions, culture, or history of African-Americans.
Priority was provided for projects that:
- encourage the design or construction of a new facility or the renovation of an existing facility in an area with great cultural significance in which no facility exists;
- enhance the beauty or aesthetic value of facilities named for significant African-Americans;
- or restore facilities on the National Register of Historic Places.
Funding for this program is provided by the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, as authorized by the Department of the Treasury.
The grant panel meeting was held in Tallahassee on February 22-24, 2022.
With 13% of the statewide projects scoring high enough to be awarded requested funds, Jacksonville was a big winner. Here are the seven restoration projects poised to receive AACH grant funding.
Renovation of Old Stanton High School
Applicant: Historic Stanton, Inc. Scoring Rank: 5 Average Score: 97.429 Funding Awarded: $1,000,000
Preserving the History of Edward Waters University
Applicant: Edward Waters University Scoring Rank: 8 Average Score: 96.875 Funding Awarded: $500,000
Eartha White Community History and Education Center
Applicant: The Eartha M.M. White Historical Museum, Inc. Scoring Rank: 21 Average Score: 93.875 Funding Awarded: $495,000
Debs Store Restoration
Applicant: LIFT Jax, Inc. Scoring Rank: 22 Average Score: 93.857 Funding Awarded: $1,000,000
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Preservation
Applicant: Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Florida Scoring Rank: 24 Average Score: 93.571 Funding Awarded: $305,842
Its A Great Time To Be Alive History Project
Applicant: Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist Church Inc. Scoring Rank: 30 Average Score: 93.000 Funding Awarded: $500,000
Restoration of Historic Mt. Zion AME Church Sanctuary
Applicant: Historic Mount Zion of Jacksonville, Inc. Scoring Rank: 48 Average Score: 91.250 Funding Awarded: $500,000