State College of Florida accepting applications for Martin Luther King Day grants from Manatee, Sarasota groups

BRADENTON -- For many, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. with community volunteerism is more fitting than taking the day off as a holiday.

During State College of Florida's second annual MLK Day of Service last January, residents, volunteers and city employees, backed by grant money, got together to renovate Bradenton's Love Park on the corner of 11th Avenue West and Second Street West.

For the third consecutive year, the Florida Legislature is providing funding -- $125,000 -- so SCF can award more grants to selected organizations in Manatee and Sarasota counties to execute projects Jan. 18 for the MLK Day of Service.

"We love that," said Tim Polk, director of planning and community development for Bradenton and executive director of the Central Community Redevelopment Agency that got the Love Park grant. "That's part of the legacy of Dr. King, He was a big advocate that people should participate in making things better in their communities."

Last year, SCF received 45 applications and at least partially funded 35, said Mike Mears, SCF vice president for strategic initiatives. The maximum allocation per grant is $5,000.

Last year's projects included book and backpack distribution to students, free meal delivery for low-income residents, park and community center revitalizations and cleanups and the creation of Manatee County's first community-based science, technology, engineering and math center, Mears said.

"Our funding is part of the roughly $1 million that (state) Rep. Darryl Rouson has gone to bat to get for the whole area for MLK Service Day," Mears said. "(State) Rep. Rouson believes in this passionately."

How to apply

Applications will be accepted from 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, through 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, Mears said.

To apply, community organization representatives must attend an information session at SCF Bradenton, 5840 26th St. W., building 5, room 124, Mears said. Sessions run from 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, Oct. 28, Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, Mears said.

Organizations are asked to RSVP by contacting program manager Rodney Jones at MLKservice@scf.edu or calling 941-752-5178, Mears said.

Schools, student clubs, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, sororities or fraternities and other community organizations are eligible to submit ideas.

Eligible service projects would address issues of education, health, clean energy/environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, disaster preparedness, support for veterans and military families, public safety and neighborhood issues, Mears said.

Bradenton's Central CRA got a $5,000 SCF grant last year and added block grant money and park impact fee money in coming up with nearly $65,000, Polk said.

Love Park, which is named for Clarence Love, Bradenton's first black city councilman from 1976-80, got a new fence, new basketball court and surface, new playground equipment for children, improved lighting, more tables, benches and trash receptacles, Polk said.

This year, Polk said the Central CRA will apply for a grant for beautifying Bradenton's MLK Park.

Information: Go to scf.edu/MLKService.

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via Twitter@RichardDymond.

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 7:47 PM with the headline "State College of Florida accepting applications for Martin Luther King Day grants from Manatee, Sarasota groups ."