Movie theaters and convention centers around Minnesota have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and now the state is giving them a little relief.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development said Monday that 15 convention centers and 73 movie theaters will get $13 million in COVID-19 relief grants. Convention centers get $4.6 million and the movie theaters will get the other $8.54 million in grants.

Several Twin Ports theaters and the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center were all recipients of grant money, here is how the funds were spread out:

  • Duluth Entertainment Convention Center $500,000
  • Marcus Duluth Cinema - $120,000
  • West Theater - $15,000
  • Zinema 2 - $30,000
  • Marcus Lakes Cinema - $110,000
  • Premiere Theatres in Cloquet - $70,000
  • Lake Theatre in Moose Lake - $15,000

This grant money from The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is part of the $216 million economic relief package signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on December 16th, 2020.

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“Convention centers and movie theatres are an important part of our economy that has been severely impacted by COVID-19,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove in a press release. “The state and our team at DEED have worked hard to award these grants quickly to help these venues weather the pandemic and bounce back during Minnesota’s economic recovery.”

To be eligible for the grant money movie theaters had to have had at least $15,000 in ticket sales in 2019, an at least 30% drop in sales between 2019 and 2020, directly impacted by Governor’s Executive Order No. 20-99 and have a physical location in Minnesota.

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