At its June 29 meeting, the District III Advisory Council (DAC III) of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) voted to recommend a total of $1.8 million in allocations for eligible capital projects at several Middle Keys tourist attractions for the 2023 fiscal year. A total of 10 out of 12 project applications totaling $2.3 million were funded. Allocations must be approved by the TDC board and the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners, but denial of a DAC recommendation is rare. The projects recommended for funding are as follows:
- City of Marathon: $203,050 of a requested $273,140 for beach cleaning, along with full funding of a $245,000 request for restrooms at the upcoming Quay park redevelopment.
- Dolphin Research Center: $488,655 of a requested $542,950 for construction of a new sea lion habitat.
- Florida Keys Land and Sea Trust: $162,292 of a requested $216,922 for funding of the Crane Point Flying Forward Phase IV plan.
- The Turtle Hospital: $135,219 of a requested $156,219 for guest grounds pavers
- Mote Marine Laboratory: $104,438 of a requested $139,250 for coral restoration
- National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: $52,000 of a requested $56,000 for National Marine Sanctuary anchor installation
- Pigeon Key Foundation: $166,050 of a requested $221,400 for ADA ramp installation, along with $210,000 of a requested $252,000 for replacement of the Paint Foreman’s Dorm
- Coral Restoration Foundation: full funding of a $58,800 request for coral restoration
Two additional project applications received by the council — finger dock restoration at the 7 Mile Marina for the City of Marathon and sidewalk replacement at Pigeon Key — were voluntarily pulled by the applicants to allow the council to move forward with budgeting and allocations.
