County Commissioners support Heartland Art Center READI 2.0 public grant match

The READI 2.0 project for the Heartland Artist Center received support from the County Commissions for a portion of the required local match on Monday.

Brent Martin and Anna Kietzman from the Heartland Artist presented a request for support to approach the County Council for a portion of the required match for their grant application for READI 2.0 grant funds.  The amount requested was $180,000.

Kietzman, president of the Heartland Artists gave a brief overview of the organization.  She said they started in the late 70s and have been growing over the last 40 years.  In 2013 they moved into 101 North Michigan Street and after 11 years outgrew the space, and this March moved to the former Montgomery Ward building in the 200 block of Michigan Street with a longstanding tradition of arts in the community. She said they are working on becoming a regional arts hub.

Architect Brent Martin said renovations plans will transform three areas.  The ground floor will be a gallery space and host art exhibits, host a sensory room, offer rental office space, an audio-visual studio, coffee bar/lounge and a gift shop.  The second floor has space for traveling exhibit and gallery art space and an artist in residence apartment.  The basement area would have additional arts classrooms and studios, workshop studios, artwork gallery and student artwork gallery. 

The overall project cost is $8,239,100.  The READI 2.0 grant applications asks for $2,100,000 with the public match of $1,906,00 and private donations of $6,334,100.  Martin did told the commissioners the City of Plymouth unanimously voted a public match of $1.3 million.

The commissioners explained that American Rescue Plan funds can’t be used as a grant match.  They need to have an invoice and a vendor to give funds too.

Martin said they have a quote for a new roof on the building for $204,000.  He said if the commissioners wanted to put $180,000 towards the new roof, the gallery could get the remainder of funds needed for the project. 

The County Commissioners were supportive of helping fund the roofing project at the Heartland Artist Center and will send a recommendation to the County Council for support and funding.