Arts Council seeks $55,000 grant for plans

A $55,000 grant is being sought by Douglas County on behalf of the Carson Valley Arts Council to prepare plans to convert the Copeland Building in Minden to a 300-seat events center.

Community Development Block Grants are allocated by the federal government to the states.

County Senior Planner Lucille Rao said it’s expected that $3.3-$3.5 million in grants will be allocated to Nevada’s rural cities and counties.

Those communities compete for grants based on criteria including benefitting low to moderate income households, elimination of blight or meeting a community need of urgency.

“Projects submitted must be project-ready, collaborative in nature and demonstrate community support,” Rao said in her report.

The state has encouraged communities to use money for economic development and seek larger grants.

The former home to Copeland Lumber was erected in Minden 55 years ago using trusses 80-90 years old. The building has been listed with the Nevada State Register of Historic Places.

The first phase of the project will pay for preliminary architectural plans, sections and elevation and assess changes required for the building.

The Arts Council has $45,000 in matching funds donated by T-Mobile and $10,000 from the Hawkins Foundation.

According to the county, grants are awarded July 1, 2023. The grant will pay for the first phase of the four-phase project.

The second phase is to prepare the construction documents and obtain permits. The third phase consists of reinforcing those century-old trusses for public occupancy with the final phase consisting of the actual work to create a Carson Valley midtown fixed seat performance venue.

The Arts Council has had the Copeland since 2008 after searching for a home for a new venue for four years after the council’s founding in 2004.