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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD GRANT FUNDING AGREEMENT - CLEARWATER SISTER CITIES INC - CLEARWATER ILLUMINATIONSDOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD GRANT FUNDING AGREEMENT Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc Clearwater Illuminations Lantern Festival and International Night Market 2026 This Downtown Development Board Grant Funding Agreement ("Agreement") is effective September 21, 2026, between the DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT BOARD, an independent special distract organized and operating pursuant to the ordinances and laws of the City of Clearwater ("DDB"), and Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc WHEREAS, some of the purposes of DDB's current Work Plan is to increase awareness of DDB District as a fun destination for Clearwater's residents, employees, and visitors, and to increase awareness of the DDB Distnct as a tounst destination, and WHEREAS, Grantee has requested an event funding grant to partially fund the Clearwater Illuminations Lantem Festival and International Night Market 2026 ("Program") The proposed event will have food trucks, music, performers, and vendors descnbed in the event application attached as EXHIBIT "A" and the Budget attached as EXHIBIT "B" ("Proposed Program"), and WHEREAS, the DDB determined to provide a grant for Clearwater Illuminations Lantern Festival and International Night Market on December 6, 2026, in an amount not to exceed thirteen thousand dollars and 00/100 cents ($13,000 00) Upon execution of this Agreement DDB shall provide Grantee with an initial payment of six thousand dollars ($6,000 00) all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, is prudent use of DDB funds NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows ARTICLE I RECITALS AND TERM 1) Recitals The recitals set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated herein and made a part of this Agreement 2) Term The term of this Agreement shall be for a penod of from September 21, 2026, until June 21, 2027, unless earlier terminated under the terms of this Agreement ARTICLE II RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRANTEE 1) Services to be Provided by Grantee a Grantee shall hire, schedule, and manage all operational and marketing services needed to successfully execute and produce the Approved Program in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement, the Funding Application attached as Exhibit "A", and the Budget attached as Exhibit "B" b Grantee shall promote the Approved Program and shall identify DDB as a sponsor on all marketing matenals, including but not limited to pnnt advertisement, social media, TV, any press releases, and the Grantee websites for the listed event c Grantee shall recognize DDB's funding dunng the Approved Program with an announcement of DDB funding and showcase DDB's sponsorship with DDB's logo at the Approved Program, on marketing matenals, and on print advertisement 1 d Grantee will notify DDB of cancellation of the Approved Program due to weather, acts of God, or other situations beyond Grantee's control Rescheduling of the Approved Program must occur within the current DDB fiscal year and will require DDB approval e Grantee shall coordinate with city department(s) for special event permit approval and other city resources that meet city safety guidelines and protocols, if required 2) Required Documents and Reports from Grantee If Grantee fails to submit all required documents and reports electronically to DDB on or before 5 OOp m on June 21, 2027, Grantee will forfeit its nghts to reimbursement for the Approved Program Grantee will receive no reimbursement from DDB for the Approved Program a) A financial report and accounting for the Approved Program which shall include the total costs and a detailed account of expenses b) Proof of completion of the Approved Program c) An IRS form W-9 d) Invoice directed to DDB for actual costs incurred and itemized list of expenses containing the type of expense, date of expense, and name of vendor with dated proof of payment from the services provider e) A report summanzing the impact of the Approved Program, a summary of marketing efforts, the number of attendees or participants, and audience feedback along with any additional information that demonstrates the positive impact of the Approved Program on the DDB District Electronic copies of all photos or video footage captured at the Approved Program for DDB to use in its marketing matenals in the future 3) Use and Disposition of Funds Received Funds received by Grantee from the DDB shall only be used as reimbursement for actual costs incurred in compliance with the terms of this Agreement for the Approved Program 4) Non-discrimination Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee, for itself, its agents, contractors, and representatives, agree that a) No Exclusion from Use No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in the operation of this program on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, manta) status, national ongin, or genetic information b) No Exclusion from Hire In the management, operation, or provision of the program activities authorized and enabled by this Agreement, no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subject to discnmination on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual onentation, mantal status, national ongin, or genetic information„ except that age may be taken into consideration to the extent that the age of an employee is a bona fide occupational qualification, as permitted by law c) Breach of Non-Discnmination Covenants If Grantee violates any of the above non- discrimination covenants, the DDB shall have the nght to terminate this Agreement immediately, without regard to any grace period or opportunity to cure 5) Liability and Indemnification Grantee shall act as an independent contractor and agrees to assume all risks of providing the program activities and services herein agreed and all liability, therefore, and shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the DDB, its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims of loss, liability, and damages 2 of whatever nature, to persons and property, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, death of any person and loss of the use of any property, except claims arising from the negligence of the DDB or DDB's agents or employees This includes, but is not limited to, matters arising out of or claimed to have been caused by or in any manner related to Grantee activities or those of any approved or unapproved invitee, contractor, subcontractor, or other person approved, authonzed, or permitted by Grantee whether or not based on negligence Nothing herein shall be construed as consent by the DDB to be sued by third parties or as a waiver or modification of the provisions or limits of Section 768 28, Florida Statutes, or the Doctnne of Sovereign Immunity 6) Compliance with Laws Grantee shall comply with all applicable federal, state, county, and local laws, rules, and regulations If it is ever determined that this Agreement violates any federal, state, county, or local laws, rules, or regulations, Grantee shall cure the non- compliance promptly, or DDB may terminate this Agreement without regard to any additional grace penod or opportunity to cure ARTICLE III RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DDB Grant Payments will be made to Grantee for direct production costs and city fees incurred, as authonzed by this Agreement Upon execution of this grant agreement the DDB shall provide the grantee an initial payment of six thousand dollars ($6,000 00) The DDB will reimburse Grantee based on invoices and paid receipts submitted for grant expenditures for the Clearwater Illuminations Lantern Festival and International Night Market on December 6, 2026, in an amount not to exceed thirteen dollars and 00/100 cents ($13,000 00) ARTICLE IV DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES This Agreement is the entire Agreement regarding the Approved Program It may not be modified or discharged except by written amendment executed by both parties No representations or warranties by either party shall be binding unless expressed herein or in a duly executed amendment hereof ARTICLE V TERMINATION 1) For Cause Failure to adhere to any of the provisions of this Agreement in a matenal respect shall constitute cause for termination Either party may terminate this Agreement for cause by giving the other party 30 days' notice of termination If the default is not cured within the 30 - day penod following receipt of the notice, this Agreement shall terminate on the 31st day 2) Disposition of Fund Monies In the event of termination for any reason, monies provided to Grantee by DDB but not expended in accordance with this Agreement shall be retumed to the DDB within 30 days of demand, and no other installments shall be paid 3) Termination for Non -Appropriation and Modification for Budgetary Constraints The DDB is an independent special distnct which relies upon the appropriation of public funds to satisfy its obligations This Agreement shall automatically terminate at the end of the then current Fiscal Year if a final budget is not approved in accordance with Flonda law that appropriates sufficient funds for the succeeding Fiscal Year The DDB agrees to notify the Grantee in writing of any such non-appropnation of funds at the earliest possible date ARTICLE VI NOTICE Any notice required or permitted to be given by the provisions of this Agreement shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by a party hereto on the date it is hand -delivered to such party at the address indicated below (or at such other address as such party shall specify to 3 the other party in wntmg), or if sent by registered or certified mad (postage prepaid), on the 5th business day after the day on which such notice is mailed and properly addressed 1) Grantee 2) If to DDB, addressed to Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc 2664 Augusta Dnve North Clearwater, FL 33761 Chairman, DDB P 0 Box 4748 Clearwater, FL 33758-4748 ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS 1) Assignability, Complete Agreement This Agreement is non -assignable by either party and constitutes the entire Agreement between the Applicant and the Agency and all pnor or contemporaneous oral and written agreements or representations of any nature with reference to the subject of the agreement are canceled and superseded by the provisions of this agreement 2) Applicable Law and Construction The laws of the State of Florida shall govern the validity, performance, and enforcement of this Agreement This Agreement has been negotiated by the Agency and the Applicant, and the Agreement, including, without limitation, the exhibits, shall not be deemed to have been prepared by the Agency or the Applicant, but by all equally 3) Severability Should any section or part of any section of this Agreement be rendered void, invalid, or unenforceable by any court of law, for any reason, such a determination shall not render void, invalid, or unenforceable any other section or any part of any section in this Agreement 4) Junsdiction and Venue For purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding ansing out of or relating to this Agreement, the parties hereto do acknowledge, consent, and agree that venue thereof is Pinellas County, Flonda Each party to this Agreement hereby submits to the junsdiction of the State of Florida, Pinellas County and the courts thereof and to the junsdiction of the United States Distnct Court for the Middle District of Florida, for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and hereby agrees not to assert by way of a motion as a defense or otherwise that such action is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action is improper or that the subject matter thereof may not be enforced in or by such courts If, at any time during the term of this Agreement, the Grantee is not a resident of the State of Florida or has no office, employee, agency, registered agent or general partner thereof available for service of process as a resident of the State of Flonda, or if any permitted assignee thereof shall be a foreign corporation, partnership or other entity or shall have no officer, employee, agent, or general partner available for service of process in the State of Flonda, the Applicant hereby designates the Secretary of State, State of Flonda, its agent for the service of process in any court action between it and the Agency arising out of or relating to this Agreement and such service shall be made as provided by the laws of the State of Flonda for service upon a nonresident, provided, however, that at the time of service on the Florida Secretary of State, a copy of such service shall be delivered to the Applicant at the address for notices as provided in Article VI 4 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date and year first written above (DDB Signature Page) Countersigned Downtown Development Board Bruce Rector, Chairman Approved as to form Date Attome /04 5 Attest Ct 1!1 Rose ar CaII, City Ierk Date to •0?o At, Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc By /17 Pnnt name /y Title -9 '- Date -Va f 24 STATE OF FLORIDA (GRANTEE SIGNATURE PAGE) COUNTY OF PINELLAS The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means Iphysical presencR orn online notanzation this 2a day of SG? IDe� , 2026 by r, A .' as Pre�s� ,� of Gi~-41cte�s),�e, eht who is/are personally known to me or Iwho has/have produced a dnver's license as identification F1 O v brIVexS \,cense, Notary Public, State of Flonda (NOTARIAL SEAL) Name of Notary --re ✓a, Ley' as4C./ / Notary Public State of Florida My Commission Expires to) 2,4b7.t� 1 Tara lemaster My Commission No dj g 2,3 ;istam MYExp Expires 584523sion NH 6 EXHIBIT "A" FUNDING APPLICATION 7 DDB Special Event Grant Application Row 1 Reference# CLWDB002 Organization/Business Clearwater Sister Cities Inc Name Primary Contact Individual Title Phone Number Email Address Website Social Media Grant Category Event Name Event Date(s) Event Location Event Hours Stephanie Chill Executive Director +1 (727) 244-7506 admin@clearwatersistercities org clearwatersistercities org https //www facebook com/clearwatersistercities Community Event Funding (Up to $15,000) Clearwater Illuminations Lantern Festival and International Night Market 12/06/26 Coachman Park 2-8PM Estimated Attendance 1500 Event Description Clearwater Illuminations A Festival of Light and Culture will transform Coachman Park into a waterfront celebration of Clearwater's international connections Inspired by the Nagano Tomyo Lantern Festival in Clearwater's sister city of Nagano, Japan, the event builds on smaller cultural festivals hosted by Clearwater Sister Cities (CSC), expanding the concept into a larger celebration of the cultures and communities that connect Clearwater to the world The festival is presented with support from the City of Clearwater and made possible in part through funding from Creative Pinellas and Visit St Pete -Clearwater At the center of the festival will be an installation of over 100 four-sided lanterns illuminated from within Visitors will be invited to create paper panels for the lanterns, while local schools and community partners will host workshops in advance so participants can contribute artwork and see it illuminated during the festival The evening will also feature live music and dance, cultural demonstrations and organizations, artisan vendors, and Target Audience vendors offering international cuisine Located on the downtown waterfront, just minutes from Clearwater Beach by car or ferry, Clearwater Illuminations will offer residents and visitors a distinctive way to experience Clearwater after sunset As dusk falls, the illuminated lanterns and light -based installations will transform Coachman Park into a vibrant nighttime gathering place Tourists and local families Is the event free and Yes open to the public? Describe how the event increases visitation Describe marketing strategy Marketing methods Please specify Clearwater Illuminations will bring local, regional, and visitor audiences to Downtown Clearwater from late afternoon into the evening encouraging attendees to dine, shop, and explore downtown before and after the festival As the closing event of Visit St Pete -Clearwater s countywide Art Everywhere celebration, Clearwater Illuminations will benefit from broader destination marketing and promotion throughout Pinellas County, introducing Downtown Clearwater to audiences already engaging with arts and cultural experiences across the destination CSC is working with multiple City of Clearwater departments to coordinate the festival and connect it with downtown businesses and existing initiatives Merchants will receive event information in advance and be encouraged to participate through promotions and activities that extend the festival experience beyond Coachman Park The event will also generate direct economic activity through opportunities for local artists, performers, food vendors, and small businesses Partnerships with Visit St Pete -Clearwater, Creative Pinellas the City of Clearwater, cultural organizations schools and community groups will expand the festival's reach and position Downtown Clearwater as a destination for arts, culture, and international experiences Marketing will combine CSC's established outreach with the broader audiences of its partners CSC maintains an email list of several hundred subscribers, and modestly funded social media campaigns have reached more than 20,000 people Promotion will also include CSC and City of Clearwater communications, community calendars media outreach printed materials, and cross -promotion through participating organizations, artists performers and vendors As the closing event of Creative Pinellas countywide Art Everywhere celebration Clearwater Illuminations will benefit from countywide arts promotion as well as the significant tourism marketing reach of Visit St Pete -Clearwater Creative Loafing Tampa Bay will provide additional advertising and promotional support, with proposed placements including 50,000+ digital impressions and newsletter distribution reaching approximately 80,000 readers Pre -event lantern - making tables at local businesses community centers, and partner locations will provide additional grassroots outreach allowing residents to contribute to the installation while building awareness and anticipation for the festival Digital Advertising Email Marketing Event Calendars Print Advertising Social Media Website Estimated Marketing 5,000 00 Budget Estimated Marketing 200,000 00 Reach Total Estimated Event 45,500 00 Budget Grant Amount Requested from the DDB 13 000 00 Applicant Contribution 9,000 00 Third -Party Sponsorships Vendor Fees Other Funding Sources 22 000 00 500 1,000 00 Has this event received DDB funding No previous year Yes Most Recent Year DDB Funding Was Received Mention Other year Amount of DDB Funding Received How does your current funding request compare', Please explain any changes from the previous fund Applicant Certification Signature Date Submitted 0 Requesting the same amount I certify the information is true and accurate I have reviewed the DDB Grant Policy I understand failure to submit post - event reporting may affect future funding eligibility I understand grant funding is generally reimbursement -based unless otherwise approved If applying for Community Event Funding or High Impact Event Funding the applicant or authorized representative must attend the DDB meeting Stephanie Chill 08/18/26 08/18/26 8 17 AM EXHIBIT "B" BUDGET 8 Event Information Organization/Business Name Event Name Event Date(s) Event Location Grant Category Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Clearwater Illuminations: Lantern Festival and International Night Market 6 -Dec -26 Coachman Park Community Event Funding Projected Revenue Revenue Source Amount Applicant Contribution $9,000.00 Sponsorships $22,000.00 Vendor Fees $500.00 Merchandise Sales $0.00 Other Revenue (City in-kind - venue space) $1,000.00 Total Projected Revenue $32,500.00 Include all projected event expenses. Only eligible expenses may be requested from DDB. Projected Event Expenses Event Expense Total Cost Amount Requested from DDB Applicant/Other Funding Venue Rental $1,000.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 Entertainment $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 Marketing & Promotion $3,000.00 $0.00 $3,000.00 Decor & Design $22,000.00 $10,000.00 $12,000.00 Audio -Visual Equipment $4,000.00 $2,000.00 $2,000.00 Printing & Stationery $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $0.00 Security $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 Insurance $1,000.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 City Fees $500.00 $0.00 $500.00 Other Expense (bar service and alcohol) $2,500.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 Other Expense (Project Manager) $2,500.00 $0.00 $2,500.00 Other Expense (Volunteer time @ $34/hr) $4,000.00 $0.00 $4,000.00 Totals $45,500.00 $13,000.00 $32,500.00 Total Projected Revenue Total Projected Expenses Total DDB Grant Request $32,500.00 $45,500.00 $13,000.00 Exhibit "C" NO COERCION FOR LABOR OR SERVICES ATTESTATION Pursuant to Section 787 06(13), F S , this form must be completed by an officer or representative of a nongovemmental entity when a contract is executed renewed, or extended between the nongovernmental entity and a governmental entity Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc does not use coercion for labor or services as defined in Section 787 06, F S Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing statement and that the facts stated in it are true and correct Signature Printed Name, Title / r &th a1-, Csr Date ,/ 9