The city of Anna Maria is dishing out federal relief funds to nonprofits that struggled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the Center of Anna Maria Island didn’t qualify.
City commissioners unanimously voted Dec. 9 to fund three nonprofits with $4,367.05 of the $740,432 the city will receive from the U.S. American Rescue Plan Act.
Funding includes:
- $826.09 to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society;
- $1,701.60 to the Anna Maria Island Garden Club;
- $1,839.36 to the Island Players.
The ARPA, a $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill, was signed into law in March by President Joe Biden and includes $350 billion in pandemic relief funding for lower governments such as states, counties and municipalities.
Manatee County is projected to receive $78.2 million from the bill.
Island municipalities will get $3,087,896, including Anna Maria’s $740,432, Bradenton Beach’s $537,464 and Holmes Beach’s $1.81 million.
Commissioners agreed earlier this year to use some of their ARPA money to fund up to 24% of losses nonprofits experienced due to the pandemic in fiscal 2020-21.
The city chose the percentage based on the proportion of ARPA funds it will receive in relation to the total funds sent to island municipalities, hoping the other island cities also chip in a share to support the local nonprofits.
As of Dec. 9, the cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach had not discussed their spending plans.
Anna Maria’s ARPA redistribution discussion also initially included up to $16,260 for the center, which requested $67,750 — the largest from four nonprofits.
Commissioners discussed redistributing ARPA funds in November and agreed to wait until December for the city to audit the requests.
Mayor Dan Murphy said Dec. 9 that the audit showed the center did not lose money in 2020-21 and, therefore, did not qualify for relief funding.
“Through good management practices, they actually prospered somewhat,” Murphy said.
Despite a drop in operating revenues, the center finished its 2020-21 fiscal year $53,492 in the black, mostly from an increase in fundraising.
The center’s success also is continuing. The center was $50,262 in the black through September, according to the latest financial documents released by the nonprofit.
Commissioner Mark Short, who serves on the center’s financial board, said the nonprofit’s request was based on the loss in operating revenues not its bottom line. He added that the center did an “admirable job” limiting spending.
The city will distribute ARPA funds to the other three nonprofits over two years, finishing in 2022-23.
Commissioner Robert Kingan moved to approve funding for the three nonprofits.
Commissioner Jonathan Crane seconded the motion, which passed.