St. Johns County TDC Gains New Member, Considers Grant Requests

Charles Cox, owner of the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine, is the newest member of the St. Johns County Tourist Development Council. Cox was unanimously recommended to replace Joe Finnegan on the tourism board at the TDC’s August meeting and St. Johns County commissioners in turn, voted unanimously to appoint him to the post.

Speaking to the TDC in August, Cox said he has been a St. Johns County resident since 1996 when he opened the winery and has gained experience in promoting the business.

“I have been in charge of the marketing and public relations of our entire company,” he said. “I have moved it forward very successfully. I do feel like I am qualified to be on this board.”

Cox was selected from a pool of 14 applicants to fill the vacancy.

The TDC also voted to recommend $575,000 in Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants awards for 23 organizations and events, which equaled the total amount budgeted for fiscal year 2024.

A total of 29 applications were received, but six were not recommended for awards. The total amount requested by groups recommended for grants was $661,220. The amount request from all applicants was nearly double the annual budget at $983,860.

St. Johns Tourist and Cultural Development Director Tera Meeks said the tourism board can seek to increase funding.

“We can take the recommendation from the TDC to move forward with approving funding recommendations with an additional request that the Fiscal Year 2024 budget be modified to increase the grants so all grants can be fully funded,” she said.

TDC member Troy Blevins said some of the requests that were not approved are from organizations that bring a lot of hotel business to the county.

“It seems the ones that bring the revenue are the ones that aren’t scoring well,” he said. “That to me is counterproductive of what we are doing here.”

Among those receiving recommendations from the TDC were the Lincolnville Museum at $43,500, Flight to Freedom: The Fort Mose Story Lives On at $11,850 and the 14th annual St. Augustine Film Festival at $27,200.