Introduction
The North Dakota Department of Commerce is accepting proposals for the Historic Opera House Restoration Grant. The department has been appropriated funds available in the amount of $250,000 to eligible organizations.
Timeframe
Grants shall be available during the current biennium: July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
Eligible Applicants
Must be a historic (constructed prior to 1930) opera house located in North Dakota that once served as a hub for community entertainment.
Application Process
Eligible organizations shall submit a concise application letter to the Department of Commerce. Applications shall identify the applicant, point of contact and associated contact information, amount requested, intended uses for the funds requested, current and/or future events, and desired outcomes.
Applications shall be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. CDT, September 1, 2025, to the Grant Administrator of the Department of Commerce’s Tourism & Marketing division:
- McKenzie Clayburgh clayburghmckenzie@nd.gov
Review Process
The Department of Commerce will evaluate applications submitted to the Historic Opera House Restoration Grant. Upon completion of the review process, the Department of Commerce shall notify applicants of funding decisions and issue award funds to a successful applicant.
Intended Use of Award Funds
The Historic Opera House Restoration Grant funds should be used for infrastructure improvements that would assure public safety and allow the venue to open for public events. Funds must be used to restore the physical infrastructure and are not intended to be used for administrative costs.
Accountability
Successful applicants must track all expenditures of award funds and retain documentation that is readily accessible for auditing purposes. Successful applicants must fulfill reporting requirements by providing a written report to the Department of Commerce, every 6 months, to fulfill legislative reporting requirements (format provided by the Department of Commerce).
Successful applicants must submit a written report using the provided format to the Department of Commerce by June 30, 2027, that summarizes how award funds were spent and describing progress toward the desired outcomes identified in their respective applications. The written reports shall also identify any unspent award funds and provide any photo and video assets documenting the results of the grant. The report shall be submitted to the Grants Division of the Department of Commerce’s Tourism & Marketing Division.