Port St. Joe authorizes Washington Gym grant application; University of Florida to be administrator, local match likely

Port St. Joe commissioners voted May 21 to authorize submission of a grant application to fund renovations at the Washington Gym, with the University of Florida serving as the grant administrator and the city acting as the local administrator.

City staff described the application as a second phase of funding for the historic Washington Gym and said the county has already secured roughly $500,000 for part of the project. The staff presentation said the city would assume administrative responsibility if the application is successful. “This will be a partnership between the University of Florida and the city,” a staff member said.

Commissioners and staff discussed how a full award would affect the city’s finances. Staff said a full award could require a 25% local match; if the city and county split the match, staff estimated each jurisdiction’s share could be reduced proportionally. Commissioner-level discussion noted Commissioner Quinn was pursuing county-level federal funds that might qualify as part of the match, but staff said eligibility of those funds was not yet confirmed.

After brief questions about the amended project letter from Dr. Larkin and who would oversee the portal submission, the commission voted to authorize submission of the application with the University of Florida as administrator.

The motion authorizes only the submission of the application; staff told commissioners that if the grant is awarded they will return with details about the award amount and match requirements. The presentation noted the match — if required — would be needed when the grant moved into the funding phase; staff flagged July 2025 as the timeframe for having match funding identified.

What happens next: Staff will finalize the application with the University of Florida, work to confirm whether existing county grant funds could count as the city’s match, and report back to the commission with award details and any required local budget action.