MONROE - A motion by 51st District Representative Todd Novak recently passed as part of the state budget will have a direct impact on the Monroe Arts Center and those in the area who frequent the facility.
The $100,000 in matching grants was signed by the governor Sept. 21 as part of the overall budget.
MAC Director Richard Daniels first invited Novak to tour the arts facility a year ago, during which the assemblyman said he was "impressed" by the capability of the center.
Daniels said Novak's work helped reset MAC fundraising efforts.
"I think this has given us a fresh start," Daniels said. "We were really stymied."
Daniels said the fundraising committee had raised roughly $4.2 million for renovation and expansion projects at MAC.
"We've done a lot with that, including substantially increasing the endowment for the MAC Foundation," Daniels said. "But there had been a certain amount of fatigue."
Plans to update the facility at 1315 11th St. began with a $3.75 million expansion completed in August of 2016. The addition of a block-long arts section connected by a transparent walkway was the most noticeable change to the former church, built in 1869. The remaining funds were used to update infrastructure such as bathrooms, make the center more accessible and restore a concert hall while maintaining its historical aspects.
MAC still has plans to renovate the lower level of the original church building.
"Visitors go from the current hall into the lower level and they wonder what happened," Daniels said.
The MAC Board of Directors is now faced with the decision to demolish Wesley Hall, which was an addition made to the center in the 1950s. The goal of demolition would be to create more accessibility and parking space for the land-locked facility, which Daniels supports. Estimated costs for the work will likely fall between $300,000 to $350,000, Daniels said.
Novak said he felt a certain amount of relief after the state Joint Finance Committee passed his motion with a 12-4 vote, but even more so after speaking to the governor's office and being told the measure would pass with the state budget.
"It's a really good feeling," Novak said. "Getting something in the budget is a hard process."
The matching grant motion does not identify MAC as the recipient, however it requires "that the funds be used for the purposes of improvement or expansion of an existing arts center." The facility would need to raise an equal amount of funds before applying for the grant, which would be awarded "to a county that (a) borders Illinois; (b) has a population between 35,000 and 40,000 ... and (c) has an existing arts center that hosts 40 or more shows or events each year," the motion reads. Under this classification, the Monroe Arts Center would be the only eligible recipient.
"It's very well-supported," Novak said. "I've never heard a bad word about the Monroe Arts Center. One thing I find very impressive about Monroe is how much the community supports organizations there."
Novak echoed earlier statements in which he said he was certain MAC would have little trouble raising the needed match funds before the facility applies for the grant.
Daniels agreed.
"We think he's right that this is an impressive facility and an asset for the community," Daniels said, laughing. "This gives our campaign a new life and I'm fully confident we can match it quite readily."
The $100,000 in matching grants was signed by the governor Sept. 21 as part of the overall budget.
MAC Director Richard Daniels first invited Novak to tour the arts facility a year ago, during which the assemblyman said he was "impressed" by the capability of the center.
Daniels said Novak's work helped reset MAC fundraising efforts.
"I think this has given us a fresh start," Daniels said. "We were really stymied."
Daniels said the fundraising committee had raised roughly $4.2 million for renovation and expansion projects at MAC.
"We've done a lot with that, including substantially increasing the endowment for the MAC Foundation," Daniels said. "But there had been a certain amount of fatigue."
Plans to update the facility at 1315 11th St. began with a $3.75 million expansion completed in August of 2016. The addition of a block-long arts section connected by a transparent walkway was the most noticeable change to the former church, built in 1869. The remaining funds were used to update infrastructure such as bathrooms, make the center more accessible and restore a concert hall while maintaining its historical aspects.
MAC still has plans to renovate the lower level of the original church building.
"Visitors go from the current hall into the lower level and they wonder what happened," Daniels said.
The MAC Board of Directors is now faced with the decision to demolish Wesley Hall, which was an addition made to the center in the 1950s. The goal of demolition would be to create more accessibility and parking space for the land-locked facility, which Daniels supports. Estimated costs for the work will likely fall between $300,000 to $350,000, Daniels said.
Novak said he felt a certain amount of relief after the state Joint Finance Committee passed his motion with a 12-4 vote, but even more so after speaking to the governor's office and being told the measure would pass with the state budget.
"It's a really good feeling," Novak said. "Getting something in the budget is a hard process."
The matching grant motion does not identify MAC as the recipient, however it requires "that the funds be used for the purposes of improvement or expansion of an existing arts center." The facility would need to raise an equal amount of funds before applying for the grant, which would be awarded "to a county that (a) borders Illinois; (b) has a population between 35,000 and 40,000 ... and (c) has an existing arts center that hosts 40 or more shows or events each year," the motion reads. Under this classification, the Monroe Arts Center would be the only eligible recipient.
"It's very well-supported," Novak said. "I've never heard a bad word about the Monroe Arts Center. One thing I find very impressive about Monroe is how much the community supports organizations there."
Novak echoed earlier statements in which he said he was certain MAC would have little trouble raising the needed match funds before the facility applies for the grant.
Daniels agreed.
"We think he's right that this is an impressive facility and an asset for the community," Daniels said, laughing. "This gives our campaign a new life and I'm fully confident we can match it quite readily."