MN DEED awards $13M in COVID relief grants to 73 movie theaters, 15 convention centers
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) on Monday has awarded more than $13 million in COVID-19 relief grants to movie theaters and convention centers across the state.
The grants include $4.6 million for 15 convention centers with grants totaling between $38,000 and $500,000. Meanwhile, the state awarded $8.54 million in grants for 73 movie theaters (118 locations), with grants ranging from $10,000 to $2.3 million.
“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.”
The money for these grants comes from the $216 million economic relief package agreed by the Legislature that Gov. Tim Walz signed into law in December.
The grant money benefitted convention centers and movie theaters in greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities (see a map here).
Of the grants awarded to the 73 movie theaters, with a total of 790 screens in 118 locations, includes 78 locations in greater Minnesota, totaling $4.7 million, and 40 locations in the Twin Cities, totaling $3.83 million.
Movie theater chains including Mann Theatres Inc., CEC Theatres and Marcus Cinemas were among those to get grants. You can find a list of the movie theaters here.
The convention centers that were awarded funds, eight are in greater Minnesota, with grants totaling $2.3 million, and seven are in the Twin Cities, with grants totaling $2.2 million.
The convention centers that received grants are:
- Canterbury Park in Shakopee – $500,000 grant
- Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth – $500,000
- Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center – $300,000
- Kato Events Center Inc. in Mankato – $38,000
- Mayo Civic Center in Rochester – $500,000
- Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato – $450,000
- Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis – $500,000
- Minneapolis Event Centers in Minneapolis – $175,000
- National Sports Center in Blaine – $125,000
- Northern Pacific Center inBrainerd – $109,000
- Range Recreation and Civic Center in Eveleth – $105,000
- Sanford Center in Bemidji – $305,000
- St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud – $300,000
- St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul – $500,000
- Union Depot in St. Paul – $167,000
