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GIMENEZ ANNOUNCES FUNDS AVAILABLE GRANT APPLICATIONS
Are Due March 17
U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, whose district includes the Florida Keys, is accepting applications for fiscal year 2024 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests. CPF comes in the form of congressionally directed grants that are included in annual government funding legislation. Last year, Gimenez secured over $23.7 million in funding for South Florida community projects.
Tom Everhart was the only fine artist granted permission by Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz to use the Peanuts characters in his paintings. CONTRIBUTED
The familiar faces of beloved cartoon characters peer out from the walls of Ocean Blue Gallery, 109 Duval St. Snoopy, Woodstock, Charlie Brown, Lucy and the whole Peanuts gang are represented in colorful drawings created by artist Tom Everhart, the only fine art artist ever granted permission by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz to use the characters in his paintings.
In the 1980s, while still painting full-time on his previous body of work in his own studio, Everhart began drawing special projects for Schulz and United Media, both in New York and Tokyo. These authentic Schulz-style drawings included covers and interiors of magazines, art for the White House, and the majority of the MetLife advertising campaign that featured the gang.
By then, Everhart became the only fine artist authorized and educated by Schulz to draw the actual Schulz line that gave life to the Peanuts characters.
“After Charles Schulz passed away in February 2000, it left Everhart with a deep sense of loss as well as an even stronger desire to communicate the incredible gift bestowed on him by Schulz,” states a biography of Everhart. “Thus, in 2000 Everhart discovered French Polynesia, a small group of islands in the center of the Pacific Ocean. The ongoing trips between French Polynesia and Venice, California have had a significant effect on the paintings most easily observed in the luminous color palette. But, most importantly, it offered Everhart a new way of seeing the work he was dedicated to continuing.
“The Charles M Schulz Museum opened in August 2002 and the following year … Everhart had the honor of presenting his works in a solo exhibition titled ‘Under The Influence.’”
Everhart continues to lecture around the world on the artwork of Schulz and to communicate the unique collaborative relationship they shared.
— Contributed
“One of the most important functions in my role as a member of Congress is ensuring that Florida’s 28th Congressional District gets the funding it needs to support critical infrastructure projects and the work of our community’s non-profit organizations,” Gimenez said in a March 3 statement. “Please carefully review the attached guidance before submitting an application, and direct any questions to my office.”
PLEASE NOTE: post information online about any projects he selects to submit to the Appropriations Committee. The posting will include the name of the proposed recipient, the address, the amount of the request and an explanation of the purpose and justification for the use of taxpayer funds.
• Gimenez can only submit 15 CPF requests to the Appropriations Committee, which has final say in whether a request is included in FY24 appropriations bills. As such, selection by his office does not guarantee funding for a project. Funding is subject to the passage of an appropriations law that contains CPFs. Project sponsors should be aware that selection by Gimenez is the first step in a months-long process.
• Requests must meet the criteria for funding established by the Appropriations Committee. Any requests that are not eligible for one of these accounts will not be accepted.
• Any required matching funds must be available for each project. This does not mean that matching funds must be in-hand prior to requesting a project, but that project sponsors must have a plan to meet such requirements in order for such a project to be viable.
• Only the following entities may apply:
- State, local and tribal governments
- Publicly owned entities (e.g. ports, universities, etc.)
- Certain nonprofit entities with a quasi-governmental purpose (e.g. special districts)
- Certain nonprofit organizations
• Only projects with demonstrated community support will be considered. Examples of support include:
- Letters of support from elected community leaders (e.g. mayors or other officials);
- Press articles highlighting the need for the requested funding;
- Support from newspaper editorial boards;
- Projects listed on state intended use plans, community development plans, or other publicly available planning documents; or
- Resolutions passed by city councils or boards.
ARTIST will appear at Ocean Blue Gallery, 109 Duval St. from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11.
• Each project is subject to strict legal and ethical review. Projects that contain even the appearance of impropriety will not be accepted. In the interest of transparency, Gimenez will
Applications may be submitted at gimenez.house.gov/community-project-funding. Applications are due Friday, March 17.
