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16:23 ~'612 785 5699
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<br />NAT'L ~PORT~ CTR --- CITY-ELK RIVER
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<br /> NEWS RELEASE
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<br />· :' :' '" ' ~ For immediate release: April 29, 1996
<br /> Contact:, Paul ErlOkeon, Exeoutive Director
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<br /> Minnesota Amateur 8porta Commission
<br />1700 105th Ave N.E. (612) 765-5630
<br />Blaine, MN 55449 Fax: (612) 786-5699
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<br />MASC Awards 32 Grants in Round Two of "Mighty Ducks" Ice Arena
<br />Construction Grants
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<br />Blaine, Minn -- At its April 29 meeting, the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC)
<br />awarded 32 grants, totalling $4.286 million, to build new ice arenas or to renovate existing ice
<br />facilities around the state. The grants, which all require a match of local private or public fund-
<br />ing, were awarded via the 'Mighty Ducks" granting program of the State Capital Bonding Fund.
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<br />The grants awarded Monday are for projects with 1996 construction starts. The MASC will
<br />award another round of grants in November for projects with a 1997 construction start.
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<br />The 17 communities receiving grants to build new arenas are Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Dodge
<br />County (Kasson), Duluth, Edina, Elk River, Inver Grove Heights, La Crescent, Maple Grove,
<br />Moorhead, Moose Lake, New Hope, New Prague, Olmsted County (Rochester), Orono, Sleepy
<br />Eye, and St. Louis Park. A total of $3.6 million will be awarded toward the construction of new
<br />ice arenas, which will leverage at least an additional $20 million in local private and public con-
<br />struction spending,
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<br />The 15 communities receiving grants to renovate existing arenas are Carlton, Coleraine, East
<br />Grand Forks, Farmlngton, Hutchinson, Lindstrom, Luveme, Mora, Osseo, Ran).~ey County,
<br />Silver Bay, Waseca, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, and Windom. Approximately $686,000 will
<br />be granted to communities renovating their existing ice facilities. The renovation grants will
<br />leverage an additional $1.2 million in local spending.
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<br />The grants w. ill assist in the construction of 18 new sheets of ice and help fund the renovation of
<br />a total of 15 sheets of ice.
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<br />The 1996 Legislature awarded a total of $8 million for ice facilities. Following Monday's grant
<br />awards, the balance, $3.714 million, is planned to be awarded by the MASC at its November 25
<br />meeting, following an October 4 application deadline.
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<br />The grants continue the efforts, dating back over two years, by the Minnesota Legislature and
<br />the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission to address the crisis ice shortage in the state. This
<br />is the second phase of "Mighty Ducks" grants. The MASC awarded $2.9 million, in 23 grants, Jn
<br />December of 1995. That investment assisted in the construction of 13 new sheets of ice.
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