The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announced over $13 Million in relief grants to convention centers and movie theaters in the state, including over $1.3 million in grants across Southeast Minnesota.

There were $4.6 million in grants in Convention Center Relief Grants and $8.54 million in Movie Theater Relief Grants to facilities across the state.

In Southeast Minnesota these convention centers and movie theaters were awarded grants include:

  • Mayo Civic Center - $500,000
  • Rochester Galaxy 14 + Imax in Rochester - $150,000
  • CMX Chateau 14 in Rochester - $150,000
  • Hollywood 12 Theatres in Rochester - $130,000
  •  Gray Duck Theater and Coffeehouse in Rochester - $15,000
  • JEM Movie Theater in Harmony - $15,000
  • Spring Grove Cinema in Spring Grove - $15,000
  • Winona 7 in Winona - $80,000
  • CineMagic 7 Theatres in Austin - $80,000
  • Northwood Cinema 10 in Owatonna - $110,000
  • Mall Cinema 7 in Albert Lea - $80,000

These grants were part of a $216 million economic relief package signed into law by Governor Tim Walz, and the package included a $14 million appropriation for grants to movie theaters and convention centers in Minnesota impacted by COVID-19.

“Convention centers and movie theatres are an important part of our economy that has been severely impacted by COVID-19,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “The state and our team at DEED have worked hard to award these grants quickly to help these venues weather the pandemic and bounce back during Minnesota’s economic recovery.”

Fifteen convention centers that met the eligibility requirements were awarded grants ranging from $38,000 to $500,000. Eight are located in Greater Minnesota and received a total of $2.3 million in grants; while seven are in the Twin Cities and received $2.2 million.

Seventy-three movie theater owners in 118 locations across the state met the eligibility requirements and were awarded grants ranging from $10,000 to $1.2 million. Seventy-eight of the locations with 411 screens are in Greater Minnesota and received a total of $4.7 million. Those awarded the grants must spend the entire grant on theaters located in Minnesota, and the formula for award amounts was established in statute, according to a press release from DEED.

The eligibility requirements for both of these programs were set in the bipartisan $216 million COVID-19 recovery package passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Walz in December of 2020. The other components of that package included $114 million which has been distributed to counties across Minnesota, and $88 million in direct payments to qualifying businesses that had experienced a 30% drop in revenue, which were distributed by the Department of Revenue earlier this year.

You can see a map outlining who the grants were awarded to on the Minnesota DEED website. 

 

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