Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Monica Cepero
Department: County Administration Division: Cultural Division
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE Cultural and Artistic Facilities Capital Support Grant Award Agreement between Broward County and the Museum of Discovery and Science, Inc., in the total not-to-exceed amount of $500,000, to design and fabricate the exhibit, Build a Better World; authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute same; authorize the County Administrator to execute amendments to the agreement that do not impose additional financial obligations on Broward County, subject to review and approval for legal sufficiency by the County Attorney’s Office; and authorize the County Administrator to take any necessary administrative and budgetary actions to implement and administer the grant. (Commission District 4)
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Why Action is Necessary
Pursuant to Section 29.17(d)(3) of the Broward County Administrative Code, Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) approval is required for all Cultural and Artistic Facilities Capital Support Grant Awards (“C&A Grant”).
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the C&A Grant Award to the Museum of Discovery and Science, Inc. (“MODS”) and authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to execute the associated grant award agreement; and further authorizes the County Administrator to execute amendments to the grant award agreement that do not impose additional financial obligations on the County.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☒County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE BROWARD COUNTY CULTURAL DIVISION AND THE BROWARD COUNTY CULTURAL COUNCIL RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the Board's Healthy Community Goal of cultivating community culture, arts, recreation, and life-long learning.
The C&A Grants provide capital project assistance and support to recipients for the acquisition, development, construction, renovation, expansion, or improvement of new or existing cultural or artistic facilities located in Broward County. Nonprofit organizations incorporated in Broward County with the primary mission of arts and culture, and public entities located in Broward County, are eligible to apply.
The application cycle for this program included free virtual workshops convened on October 19, 2023, and November 11, 2023, to prepare prospective applicants for the December 7, 2023, proposal deadline. During this application cycle, only one application was received, which was submitted by the Museum of Discovery and Science, Inc. (“MODS”). The grant review panel was held on January 16, 2024. The application for the C&A Grant Award program was reviewed by a five-member review panel and scored based on criteria described in the published grant guidelines. The C&A Grant guidelines include a requirement that applicants must not have received C&A Grant funding from Broward County in the current or four previous County Fiscal Years. In Fiscal Year 2023, MODS received a $500,000 C&A Grant.
The review panel's recommendations were approved by the Broward County Cultural Council (“BCC”) on November 7, 2024. The BCC approved the following two motions: (1) “MOTION TO RECOMMEND waiving the Cultural and Artistic Facilities (C&A) Guidelines requiring applicants not to have received C&A funding in the previous four years, due to having only one applicant for C&A funds for Fiscal Year 2025”; and (2) “MOTION TO RECOMMEND approval of C&A Capital Support Grant award for Fiscal Year 2025 in the amount of $500,000 to the Museum of Discovery and Science.”
MODS will design and fabricate the exhibit named Build a Better World. The exhibit will empower visitors to develop environmentally friendly habits such as sustainable living and recycling, showcase inspirational content that inspires guests to make a difference in their communities, and spotlight technological innovations that are being locally developed to combat climate change. The exhibit will feature “calls to action” that highlight local action steps, such as participating in the Museum’s programs including bimonthly beach cleanups, paid internships for high school students (Everglades EcoExplorers), and MODS’ Visiting Environmental Artist Series. The exhibit will promote environmental advocacy through the arts and connect guests with local efforts that are working to advance Broward’s environmental resilience. These connections will foster a strong resilience mindset among Broward County, as well as pave college-to-career pathways that will drive Broward’s high-demand STEM career fields of aviation and environmental science.
The $500,000 County grant is subject to a 2:1 match by MODS (i.e., $1,000,000). The total project cost is expected to be approximately $2,400,000, inclusive of the County’s grant, the MODS match, and additional funding.
Source of Additional Information
Phillip Dunlap, Director, Cultural Division, (954) 357-7456
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Funds are budgeted in the Convention Center Capital Fund for the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Challenge Grant Program.