Jacksonville Journey Could Get $4 Million From Stimulus

Andrew Robins Elementary is another, both are funded by the Jacksonville Journey. Community Schools Director Eric Johnson says the potential money from the economic stimulus would help keep the program on track.

"It keeps kids off the street, it helps kids get extra academic reinforcement, and gives kids those opportunities to do other things after school rather than go home and be by themselves watching tv," says Johnson.

According to the city, Jacksonville could get about $38 million from the federal stimulus package. $4 million would come through the State Department of Justice for the Jacksonville Journey. It's a project not everyone has been on board with.

"I think that the Journey has received $31 million, and I think that if any additional funds come into Jacksonville, they need to go to grass roots organizations," says Donald Foy with Mad Dads.

Foy used to be on of one of the Journey's committees but later stepped down, after saying he didn't feel it was serving the community the best it could.

"The answer to the murder problem in Jacksonville is not going to just be one solution. I think those after school programs are good, but we want to stop the murder problem. Most of the murders are happening between the ages of 19 to 34 years old. I think the resources need to be given to groups that are not already apart of the Jacksonville Journey that are working at the grass root level of the community," says Foy.

Right now nothing is official as to if and when the money will come. The only thing certain is the money is available for use.

"I think it's an excellent program that really supports what tax payers really want their money to go for," says Johnson.

The city says the Florida Department of Transportation is expecting to get $20 million for projects. $12 million will go for energy efficiency projects and $2 million will be through community development block grants.

The Jacksonville Journey allocated close to $31 million for the 2009 fiscal year. $10.8 million went towards increasing police presence