Thanks to voters approving the 3/10ths of 1 percent increase in the city’s use tax rate and sales tax rate, the Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage initiative continues to work its magic throughout the community.
MACH was set up to direct 66 percent of those proceeds to Manitou Springs’ landmark properties, called “Tier 1” recipients. They are the Carnegie Library building, Hiawatha Gardens, the Manitou Art Center, Miramont Castle and the Manitou Springs Heritage Center, all of which need facility improvements and operations support.
The remaining 34 percent is earmarked for local projects the MACH board selects. This year, that portion of the funding amounted to almost $75,000, according to Neale Minch, MACH board chair.
The most recent recipients are:
Lawrence Jones, for EPIC — Manitou Springs Community Concert;
Becca Sickbert, Manitou Made — 2021 online auctions;
Mel Williams, Middle School Age Summer Camp and MAC Fashion Construction;
Melanie Audet, Blue Hands Festival;
Noah Rockey, Rockey Art Museum exterior improvements;
Anna-Rebecca Allen, Amanda’s Memorial Community Resource Box; and
Austin Doten, Mineral Springs Info Depot.
MACH has helped fund 23 projects so far.
Now, it’s time to apply for the next round of MACH grants. Applications are due Dec. 31 for shares of what Minch estimates could be $151,000.
He’s looked at the city’s most recent budget and calculated that MACH could receive about $444,000 total, so about $293,000 of that will go to Tier 1 recipients.
“The final number will be known in February after we receive December sales tax figures,” Minch said.
After the MACH board selects the recipients, members present the list to City Council for final approval.
Manitou residents of all ages and Manitou nonprofits are eligible to apply.
People and nonprofits outside of Manitou may apply using a pass-through/fiscal sponsorship, partnering with a Manitou nonprofit. Fiscal-sponsoring organizations must have been in existence for at least two calendar years.
Residents, students and businesses presenting new and creative projects that will benefit Manitou’s cultural environment are encouraged to apply. Projects must directly interface with arts, culture and/or heritage within Manitou city limits.
Anyone who received a MACH grant this year must have completed the project and submitted a completion report before applying for a new project.
The board judges applications by these criteria: completeness of application, quality of budget request, program/project alignment with Plan Manitou values, impact in the community and the experience and expertise to complete the project.
“I think we were very intentional anchoring the values and priorities outlined in Plan Manitou,” Minch said. “If you are weak in one area, that may be the difference between being funded or not.”
This round of applicants can take advantage of two additions to the process.
For the first time, MACH will offer training sessions.
The first is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the MAC classroom, 513 Manitou Ave. An online session will take place Saturday, Nov. 20, during the same hours; another in-person session is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, also in the MAC classroom.
Becca Sickbert, executive director of the Manitou Springs Creative District, will facilitate.
“The board has noticed on the two rounds of grants so far, there have been very few poor ideas, but there have been a larger number of applications that could have done with greater clarity of thought,” Minch said.
The other new feature: mini-grants. They are worth up to $750 and the application process is simpler. That information also will be covered in the training sessions.
“For an individual who had a small project, we wanted a way to make the application process simpler,” Minch said. “We believe this will encourage more individuals in our community to take that step toward making their idea a reality and potentially lead to more ideas.
“We recognize there is a big difference between a grant request for $5,000 versus $500, and designed a process to recognize this.”
For more information and a link to applications, go to www.tinyurl.com/MACHBoard.