Acknowledge Application to the MN Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for a Competitive Veterans Memorial Grant

Last month, the League of Minnesota Cities notified city staff of a unique opportunity to honor Veterans through a special appropriation through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund - with the application due on December 17th 2021. The Request for Proposal (second attachment) was shared with Rum River Arts, a reoccurring program partner with the city.  An interesting sculptural art project was developed and submitted by the deadline, in that there was not a City Council meeting scheduled until January 11th, 2022.

The public art project described in the first attachment (the submitted application) describes that if we obtain grant funding with Rum River Arts, the City would be required to fund up to $5,000 for the project or serve as a pass-through from another organization (like the Lion’s or a VFW).  The intention is that another entity will be invited to fund the city's share of the project.

If, the application is tentatively approved to proceed for contract negotiations (end of January or February 2022), this proposed project will return to City Council for additional approval, or to withdraw the application in the alternative.

As indicated above, if Rum River Arts and the City's application is tentatively approved to proceed for contract negotiations, this proposed project will return to City Council for additional approval, or to withdraw the application in the alternative.

A specific potential city-funded source(s) will be identified if the grant application is selected to proceed, understanding that the intent is for third party funding for the city's share of $5,000.

Staff recommends not withdrawing the grant application at this time, to ascertain if it is selected to proceed for potential funding, with subsequent City Council consideration.

Motion to authorize staff to submit a letter assuring the City share of funding of the Veterans Memorial Grant in an amount not-to-exceed $5,000—and also subject to final Council approval at a future date.