Neighborhood organizations hoping for STAR grants, others out of running

By JANE McCLURE

Four neighborhood organizations are in the running for Neighborhood Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) grants and loans, including Co-Motion Center for Movement, New Vision, Community Involvement Programs-ALLY People Solutions, and the Playwrights’ Center.

The St. Paul City Council is poised to approve the 25 proposals totaling $2.603 million in July. The Neighborhood STAR Board made its recommendations in May.

The funding breakdown for recommended projects is $1,618,472 in grants, $985,433 in loans and $13,923,574 in matches.

Twenty-six projects didn’t make the cut and two others were withdrawn. The total of all requests topped $6.5 million.

The Neighborhood STAR process funds brick and mortar projects. Projects must have set “life span” and must have a match of dollars, sweat equity, materials or a combination of those items. The city used to fund a smaller Neighborhood STAR round but now runs only one round of grant and loan applications each year.

Everything from factories to playgrounds can be in the mix for the funding, which is derived from a half-cent sales tax enacted in the early 1990s.

Under Mayor Melvin Carter, there is more of a focus on projects that create jobs and small businesses. A focus is also on the city’s numerous cultural districts. No Monitor area cultural district asks are recommended for funding, but more than a dozen in other parts of the city are in line for grants and loans.

The top-ranked project citywide is a $50,000 grant and $30,000 loan for a White Bear Ave. deli renovation.

Details on local projects

The Monitor area’s top-ranked project came in fourth overall. The Co-Motion Center for Movement at 655 N. Fairview Ave. is recommended for a $40,000 loan and $40,000 grant, with a $180,000 match. The fund would be used for building improvements by Element Boxing & Fitness.

Ranked 11th is a request for 860 Vandalia St., for the nonprofit New Vision’s headquarters in St. Paul. A $105,424 grant will be matched with $105,424 to build out the facility, which also houses the Tech Dump electronics recycling program.

Coming in close behind at 14th is a new headquarters for the merged Community Involvement Programs-ALLY People Solutions agencies at 1515 Energy Park Dr. The merged social service agencies, which serve people with disabilities, will bring 150 jobs to Energy Park. A $100,000 loan and $50,000 grant will bring a $150,000 match.

A new Playwrights’ Center finished 23rd, with a request for a capital campaign for a new facility at 711 Raymond Ave. The center obtained a $100,000 grant and $50,0000 loan, with $7.625 million match to convert an old warehouse into a playwrights center.

Other requests missed the cut. Junior Achievement, which recently moved to 1745 University Ave., wanted a grant to tuck-point and repair the east wall of its building. Replacement of a mural was also planned.

Midway-based African Economic Development Solutions also missed out on its request for a grant for its small business revolving loan fund. The goal was to focus on North Snelling’s Little Africa area.

The Ain Dah Yung Center for homeless Native American young people at 771-785 University Ave., saw its ask for a loan to add a cultural facility turned down. The cultural facility would have been part of a housing project that is currently being built.

Zion Lutheran Church, 1697 Lafond Ave., and Hamline Midway Elders, had hoped for funding to add an accessible entrance and lift and install an accessible bathroom. The church houses many food and wellness programs. That request was also rejected.

Finishing last overall among ranked projects was the Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave., for a grant to pay for a 430-foot long, seven foot tall, gabion stone fence along its eastern border.