Please communicate now with key members of the Florida House who are not currently supportive of $5 million for arts, cultural, and museum grants in the state's FY 2012-2013 budget -- details below.
Status: Members of the Florida House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee must hear from you NOW. We have heard the House's current position is not supportive of the Senate's current position of restoring the state's investment to $5 million for arts, cultural, and museum grants in the state's FY 2012-2013 budget.
Here is the document we e-mailed you yesterday that shows a side-by-side of what is being recommended at this stage of the budget process on the Florida House and Senate sides for the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs' 2012-2013 grants programs, along with a list of legislative projects.
IMMEDIATE Action Request: Today, please take a few minutes to quickly do the following:
1. Open this document, and find your county.
2. E-mail and call the Representative or Representatives who are listed under your county -- focus today on just the Representative/s, not the Senators. You can link directly to their websites and e-mails by clicking on their names from this document.
3. Encourage them to please support a state-restoration investment of at least $5 million for the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs' arts, cultural, and museum grant line items that support over 300 qualified and ranked grant applicants. Some of these House members will serve on the conference committee that will help determine the final appropriations for arts, cultural, and museum grants. They must hear from you now before it's too late.
a. Share with them this link to the ranked lists of qualified Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs' grant applicants for FY 2012-2013 that have gone through the official state procedures of panel review, Florida Council on Arts and Culture review and approval, final approval by the Secretary of State, and are now on ranked lists for legislative funding.
b. If your organization is one of those organizations recommended for a grant, let them know how this state grant will help your organization preserve and create JOBS for your community.
c. Share with them the Statewide Legislative Platform for Arts and Culture that shows the substantial decline in Florida's investment in this creative industry that is vital to help
► Preserve and create jobs -
Florida arts & culture industry - 88,326 full-time equivalent jobs
► Increase local and state government treasuries -
a $5 return for every $1 invested to local and state treasuries from Florida's arts industry
► Expand tourism -
Florida cultural visitors spend on average 137% more than resident attendees - $57.49 vs. $24.25*
These key Florida House members listed under your county must hear from you and others in your county that this state investment is modest and has tremendous returns as stated above and in your own words.
4. Also today, please register for our statewide advocacy call scheduled for Monday, February 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET. We will discuss this issue in greater detail and provide you with updated information and strategies needed to secure this restoration of funds for arts and cultural grants.
Please register for this call here.
Thank you, and please know you do make a difference if you follow through on this action request.
If you have questions or need additional information,
please e-mail us at info@flca.net.
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