On Monday, June 30, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Fiscal Year 2025-26 State Budget into law, which includes $1.5 million in funding for two important initiatives in St. Johns County: the development of the Florida Museum of Black History and improvements to the Interstate 95 and International Golf Parkway (IGP) interchange.
The approved budget allocates:
“We appreciate the support of Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Legislature in advancing these local priorities," said Krista Joseph, chair of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners.
Florida Museum of Black History
The $1 million allocated for the Florida Museum of Black History will be administered through the Florida Department of State. A formal grant agreement will be established in the coming months, with funding distributed according to the terms of the agreement and the Florida Senate Local Funding Initiative Request Form #2533.
“With this foundational investment, the State has affirmed St. Johns County as the rightful home for the Florida Museum of Black History,” Commissioner Sarah Arnold said. “This project will be a meaningful and lasting tribute to the Black Floridians who have shaped our state’s history, and I’m honored to be part of the team bringing it to life.”
A competing request by the City of Opa-locka for funding toward a separate Black history museum was vetoed by DeSantis, signaling a clear commitment to moving forward with the St. Johns County-based initiative.
To learn more about the Florida Museum of Black History, go to sjcfl.us/florida-museum-black-history.
Interchange Improvements
The $500,000 allocation for improvements to the I-95 and International Golf Parkway interchange will help advance planning, design and construction of necessary upgrades to reduce congestion, improve safety and expand economic opportunity.
To learn more about county infrastructure improvements, go to sjcfl.us/news and filter news with the Infrastructure category.
Next Steps
With the budget now enacted, the county will work closely with state agencies to formalize grant agreements and implement the next phases of both projects in accordance with state guidelines.
