Two bills have been introduced at the state level for the Upper Mississippi Center for the Arts at the Park Rapids Armory.
Sen. Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearwater and Rep. John Persell, DFL-Bemidji, introduced Senate File 117 and House File 188.
The bills ask for bond issue and appropriation for building renovation of the Park Rapids National Guard Armory building for the Upper Mississippi Center for the Arts.
The bill asks for $4 million to be appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the Park Rapids Economic Development Authority for acquisition, and to pre-design, design, construct, furnish and equip the renovation, including hazardous materials abatement, demolition, health, safety and building code compliance, mechanical systems, and space restoration, of the historic National Guard Armory Building in downtown Park Rapids, for use as a regional arts and event center, subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.695.
This appropriation is not available until the commissioner has determined matching funds, sufficient to complete the project, have been committed from non-state sources, according to the bill.
