St. Augustine Shuts HOAs and CDDs Out of Its $3,000 Neighborhood Grants

Homeowners' associations and community development districts inside St. Augustine can no longer apply for the city's Neighborhood Grant Program, after city commissioners unanimously approved an amendment at their July 27 meeting that took effect immediately. The practical result: the $3,000 grants that pay for things like community garden work, benches, banners and neighborhood markets are now reserved for groups that cannot bill their own residents, and any HOA or CDD board that was planning to apply in the October 1 window needs to find another funding source.

The change targets entities organized under two Florida statutes: Chapter 720, which governs homeowners' associations, and Chapter 190, which governs community development districts. Both have legal authority to levy assessments or fees on the properties inside them, and city staff said that authority already covers exactly the kind of work the grant program funds: entrance features, landscaping, recreational facilities, fencing and special events.

Community Services Director Jaime Perkins told the commission a staff review turned up something that surprised her department. Groups that are statutorily allowed to collect money from their own members and parcels had been applying for the grants, and receiving them. In a memo written ahead of the vote, Perkins said the program is meant to support projects with a broader public benefit, and that the amendment will steer limited dollars toward organizations with the greatest need.

Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder backed the change, according to local media reports, and made a blunter version of the argument: many HOA communities are gated and closed to the public, so she did not think city grant money belonged there when those neighborhoods can already assess their residents for improvements.

Who can still apply

Nearly everyone else. The program stays open to formal and informal nonprofit neighborhood organizations, associations and councils inside city limits. Perkins said groups that raise money through donations or fundraisers are not affected by the amendment.

To qualify, a group needs at least three active members and dated documentation showing it has been active for at least 365 days before applying. Organizations made up mostly of relatives are out, and grants do not go to individuals. If your group has a board of directors, you have to submit meeting minutes showing a majority voted to apply. Groups with two or more consecutive years of records (meeting logs, attendance sheets, past projects) score higher.

Past recipients include the Lincolnville Community Garden, the Lighthouse Park Community Garden, the St. Augustine Ravenswood Neighborhood Association, Best-Richardson African Diaspora, the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, and Kids Bridge Supervised Visitation Center.

What the money can and cannot buy

Funding is reimbursable, meaning the group spends first and the city pays back approved costs. Anything bought before approval does not count.

Eligible	Not eligible
Public art, small libraries	Speed bumps
Gazebo and bench repairs	Website development
Community garden work	Recurring maintenance fees
Banner programs, neighborhood markets	Private property improvements

Awards go out first-come, first-served to applications scoring at least 15 points on criteria that include beautification, placemaking or revitalization, neighborhood enrichment, and community programming and events. No organization can take in more than $3,000 in a fiscal year, though a group may apply more than once, and two or more organizations can team up on a single project.

Next window opens October 1

Applications are accepted only during the first 15 days of January, April, July and October, and must be in by 5 p.m. on the 15th. The next window is October 1 through 15. Applicants hear back on approval or denial within the same quarter, and the program depends on available funds: if the money runs out, Neighborhood Services closes it for the rest of the fiscal year.

Applications go to NGP@CityStAug.com with "NGP Application Submission" in the subject line, or by mail and in person to the Neighborhood Services Division at 75 King Street, Lobby B, 4th Floor. The city's Neighborhood Services page has the criteria packet and the fillable form.

The grant program dates back to 2007. The city rebuilt it in 2024, switching from one annual cycle to four quarterly ones and opening it up to looser, less-established neighborhood groups. Whether the HOA and CDD exclusion frees up enough money to fund more applicants this fall is a question the October scoring round will answer.

For more local coverage, visit St. Augustine Community Website, and tell us what your neighborhood group would do with $3,000 by joining the conversation in our Community Forum. You can read more government and politics stories and community stories anytime.

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