Grand Forks City Council Gives Preliminary Approval To Start Allocation Process For 2027 Arts Regrant Program, Purchase Nine Replacement Police Vehicles

(KNOX) – The Grand Forks City Council gave preliminary approval on Monday for city staff to start the allocation process for the 2027 Arts Regrant Program.

The program’s 2027 budget would be for $159,135 if it receives final approval, and the money would be distributed to local arts focused nonprofits who apply for the program.

Council members also included a provision that the current at large community members who serve on the Arts Regrant Committee be replaced and rotated out next year so new members can provide new representation.

The committee currently includes community members such as Badman Design Owner Dave Badman, UND arts professor Hamzat Koriko, ; Shilo Previti, director of advocacy for Live Well Grand Cities Advocacy Director Shilo Previti; and North Dakota Health and Human Services data analyst Bridget West.

Mayor Brandon Bochenski, as well as City Council members Tricia Berg and Angela Salentiny serve on the committee too.

Arts Regrant Program funds come from city sales tax dollars, and organizations that apply could receive as much as $30,000 in grants. The grants can be used for certain projects or operating support.

Arts funding was originally not included in the 2027 city budget draft. but it was later put back in after some community members were not happy it was originally planned to get cut.

If the Arts funding gets final approval at the next regular council meeting October 5th, the application period for the program will open October 19th after having talks with previous applicants. The application period would close on November 27th.

After the committee recommends who should receive the grant awards, then there would be preliminary and final approval in January.

The Grand Forks City Council also gave preliminary approval to use the state of North Dakota fleet bid to purchase nine replacement vehicles for the Grand Forks Police Department marked fleet. This is projected to cost $287,670, and Mayor Brandon Bochenski says the city got a good deal for the new vehicles. He tells KNOX’s Critical Thought With Noah Chelliah.