DEED Announces Over $13 Million in Relief Grants to Convention Centers and Movie Theaters Statewide

St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has announced awards of $4.6 million in Convention Center Relief Grants and $8.54 million in Movie Theater Relief Grants to facilities across the state.

These grants were part of a $216 million economic relief package signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on Dec. 16, 2020. This 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. Of these, eight are located in Greater Minnesota and received a total of $2.3 million in grants; seven are in the Twin Cities and received $2.2 million.

Seventy-three movie theater owners – with a total of 790 screens in 118 locations across the state – met the eligibility requirements and were awarded grants ranging from $10,000 to $1.12 million. Of these, 78 locations (with 411 screens) are in Greater Minnesota and received a total of $4.7 million; 40 locations (with 379 screens) are in the Twin Cities and received $3.83 million. Awardees must spend the entire award on theaters located in Minnesota, and the formula for award amounts was established in statute.

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.

On DEED’s website, see a grant funding map and get more information about the Convention Center Relief Grants and Movie Theater Relief Grants.

Convention Center Relief Grant Awardees

• Canterbury Park, Shakopee – $500,000

• Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, Duluth – $500,000

• Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center – $300,000

• Kato Events Center Inc., Mankato – $38,000

• Mayo Civic Center, Rochester – $500,000

• Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato – $450,000

• Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis – $500,000

• Minneapolis Event Centers, Minneapolis – $175,000

• National Sports Center, Blaine – $125,000

• Northern Pacific Center, Brainerd – $109,000

• Range Recreation and Civic Center, Eveleth – $105,000

• Sanford Center, Bemidji – $305,000

• St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center, St. Cloud – $300,000

• St. Paul RiverCentre, St. Paul – $500,000

• Union Depot, St. Paul – $167,000

Movie Theater Relief Grant Awardees

• American Multi-Cinema Inc. – $1,120,000

• Anderson Media Group LLC – $15,000

• Baudette Community Foundation Inc. – $15,000

• Bear Pause Inc. – $50,000

• Blue Mound Area Theatre – $15,000

• Brainerd Entertainment LLC – $280,000

• CABB II LLC – $110,000

• CABB LLC – $90,000

• Canby Classic Cinema – $30,000

• CB Theater Experience LLC – $300,000

• Cine 5 Inc. – $60,000

• Cinema Entertainment Corp. – $470,000

• Cinemark USA Inc. – $90,000

• CinemaSota Inc. – $260,000

• City of Wells – Flame Theater – $15,000

• Classic Theaters Corporation – $15,000

• Copeland-Mithun Inc. – $90,000

• Earthly Delights Limited – $40,000

• Golden Ticket Cinemas, MN – $70,000

• Gopher Theater – $15,000

• Grand Cinema Entertainment LLC – $70,000

• Gray Duck Entertainment LLC – $15,000

• Guetschoff Theatre Management Corporation – $140,000

• Heights Theater Building Inc. – $15,000

• Historic State Theatre – $30,000

• Janning Olson Holding II LLC – $50,000

• JBD Lund LLC – $30,000

• Jem Movie Theatre LLC – $15,000

• Kerasotes Showplace Theatres – $150,000

• Korwood Cinemas – $80,000

• Lake Theatre – $15,000

• Lido Theatre – $15,000

• M.G. Entertainment LLC – $30,000

• Madelia Theater LLC – $15,000

• Main Street Theatre – $70,000

• Mann Theatres Inc. – $330,000

• Marcus Cinemas of Minnesota and Illinois Inc. – $740,000

• Midwest Marcus LLC – $380,000

• Moore Family Theatres – $15,000

• Morris Theatre Cooperative – $30,000

• Mounds Theatre Company – $15,000

• Northwoods Entertainment LLC – $950,000

• Odyssey Entertainment Inc. – $390,000

• Owatonna Theatre LLC – $320,000

• Paradise Community Theatre Assn. Inc. – $15,000

• P-Corn Acquisitions of Minnesota and Illinois LLC – $150,000

• Pen Isle Limited Partnership – $60,000

• Peysar Inc. – $15,000

• Premiere Theatres Inc. – $70,000

• Princess Theater – $15,000

• Properties of Excelsior – $40,000

• Quarry Cinema Inc. – $60,000

• Quincer Amusement Corporation – $55,000

• Red Barn Theater LLC – $15,000

• Risher Inc. – $15,000

• River Cinema Inc. – $180,000

• Silver Cinemas Acquisition Co. – $125,000

• Spotlight Theatres Mankato LLC – $50,000

• Spring Grove Cinema LLC – $15,000

• Standing Room Only LLC – $40,000

• Stone Arch Cinema Inc. – $50,000

• Take-Up Productions – $15,000

• The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul – $10,000

• The Parkway Theater LLC – $15,000

• Todd W. Frager Fairmont Theatre – $60,000

• Town Theatres LLC – $120,000

• Wasche-Wilson Partnership – $40,000

• West Theater LLC – $15,000

• Wewinabi Inc. – $50,000

• Windom Theater Inc. – $15,000

• Winter Family Enterprises Inc. – $40,000

• Woodbury Alamo LLC – $100,000

• Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community – $30,000

DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow us on Twitter.