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RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR THE GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS COMMISSION FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $897,874 FOR PHASE II OF THE GRAND AVENUE NORDIC CENTER.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth supports the grant application made to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission in the amount not to exceed $897,874 for phase II of the Grand Avenue Nordic Center at Spirit Mountain. If awarded, funds will be used towards a connector trail from the Nordic Center to the ski trails at the top, additional pump for snowmaking, and lighting/power for loop II.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth has the legal authority to apply for the money, and financial, technical and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the following listing will provide match dollars in the corresponding amounts
• $22,143 City of Duluth, from fund 452-030-4220-01-HANDHTAX-1506 (tourism and recreational projects, finance, state and Minnesota capital, half and half tax projects, Nordic - lower spirit).
• $52,923 Duluth Cross Country Ski Club (DXC)
• $224,225 FRTP Grants that have been secured
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth city council names the fiscal agent for this project as Wayne Parson, Finance Department Director, City of Duluth, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes application to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission for funds in an amount not to exceed $897,874 to contribute to Phase II improvements at the Grand Avenue Nordic Center that would include more powerful pumps to increase snowmaking capacity, a connector trail from the Nordic Center to Nordic trails at the top of the mountain, snowmaking for loop II, and lighting for loop I and II. Improvements will be consistent with the Grand Avenue Nordic Center mini-master plan approved by the City Council June 25, 2015.
If awarded, this grant will further establish Grand Avenue Nordic Center as one of the foremost cross country ski destinations and event venues in the Midwest. When completed, the facility will include 3.3 km of lighted, snowmaking-supported cross country ski trails for a variety of ability levels constructed to event standards and connected to 20 km of preexisting cross country ski trails on the top of Spirit Mountain. One byproduct of the project will be to significantly increase snowmaking capacity for both the Nordic Center and alpine hill, enabling both to open earlier. The capacity to open both facilities as early as possible is a critical revenue driver.
The Nordic Center’s first two seasons have been a success. With only Phase I improvements in place, the Nordic Center has:
• Generated sufficient revenue to break even.
• Hosted the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club/s program, KidSki, which annually teaches more than 150 local youth to ski.
• Hosted practices for numerous local high school and college Nordic teams.
• Hosted 2020 Midwest Junior National Qualifiers that attracted roughly 500 racers.
Matching funds will be provided by $55,923 in charitable contributions raised by the Duluth Cross Country Ski Club, $224,225 in previously secured federal FRTP grant funds, and $22,143 from a .5% increment in the tourism tax designated by the State of Minnesota Legislature and the Duluth City Council to capital improvements to public facilities in western Duluth for the purposes of outdoor recreation and tourism.
The Grand Avenue Nordic Center project is a partnership of Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, the City of Duluth, and Duluth Cross Country Ski Club. The City of Duluth’s role has been to oversee the planning, design, financing, and construction of the facility and provide finite capital funding. The Duluth Cross Country Ski Club’s role has been to raise funds for the project and host and organize programming at the new facility. Spirit Mountain’s role is to own and operate the facility.