The North Dakota Department of Commerce is offering the Historic Opera House Restoration Grant, a state-funded opportunity aimed at preserving and revitalizing historic opera houses across North Dakota. The grant program has an appropriation of $250,000 available for distribution during the current biennium, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The program is administered through the Department’s Tourism & Marketing Division and is designed to support restoration projects that enhance community cultural spaces.
The purpose of this grant is to restore historic opera houses constructed prior to 1930 that once served as central hubs for community entertainment. Funding is intended exclusively for infrastructure improvements that assure public safety and enable the venue to open for public events. Examples of eligible improvements include structural repairs, safety enhancements, and other physical upgrades necessary to restore the building’s operational capacity. Administrative costs are explicitly excluded from funding eligibility.
Applicants must be organizations that own or manage an eligible historic opera house located in North Dakota. The application process requires submission of a concise letter to the Department of Commerce identifying the applicant and a point of contact, with corresponding contact information. The application should also specify the amount requested, describe intended uses of the funds, outline current and planned events, and identify anticipated outcomes from the restoration project.
Applications must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time on September 1, 2025, to McKenzie Clayburgh, the Grant Administrator within the Tourism & Marketing Division, at clayburghmckenzie@nd.gov. The Department of Commerce will review all submissions and determine award recipients. Upon completion of the review process, successful applicants will be notified and funds will be disbursed accordingly.
Award recipients are required to maintain thorough records of all expenditures, which must be readily available for auditing purposes. Reporting obligations include submitting progress updates every six months in a format provided by the Department, ensuring compliance with legislative reporting requirements. A final written report is due no later than June 30, 2027, detailing how funds were spent, progress toward intended outcomes, any unspent funds, and photo or video documentation of the completed work. Reports must be submitted to the Grants Division of the Department of Commerce’s Tourism & Marketing Division.
This grant represents a significant opportunity for North Dakota communities to preserve important cultural landmarks, ensure public safety, and foster future arts and entertainment events in historic settings. By focusing on infrastructure restoration, the program aims to ensure that these venues remain active, safe, and vibrant parts of their communities for years to come.
