James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program
The James Metzen Mighty Ducks Grant Program has a dual mission: 1) To provide financial assistance to Minnesota communities in eliminating the use of R-22 systems in ice arena refrigeration and 2) Improve indoor air quality in ice arenas.
The production of R-22 was banned by the EPA in 2020. This program is to assist communities in the replacement of ice-making systems in existing public facilities that use R-22 as a refrigerant with systems that use an alternative non-ozone-depleting refrigerant.
Grants for Indoor air quality improvements are intended to renovate or replace heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning systems in existing indoor ice arenas whose ice resurfacing and ice edging equipment are not powered by electricity in order to reduce concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to protect the health of Minnesota youth athletes, patrons, and staff.
A supplemental round of applications is now open. Proposals are due by Tuesday, February 13, 2024, no later than 5:00pm. See below for details
Program Information
Eliminating R-22 Refrigerant: Direct Systems
Communities may apply for up to $500,000 per
arena to replace an existing R-22 direct
refrigeration system with a minimum one-to-one dollar match from non-state
sources.
Eliminating R-22 Refrigerant: Indirect Systems
Communities may apply for up to $250,000 per
rink to replace an existing R-22 indirect refrigeration system with a minimum one-to-one
dollar match from non-state sources.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Communities may apply for up to $25,000 per arena for the replacement, renovation, or addition of automated systems controls for HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy costs.
A supplemental round of Mighty Ducks applications is now open. Submissions are due no later than Tuesday February 13, 2024 by 5:00pm. See below for details.
This project is financed by state general obligation bonds. The public entity (LGU) that will receive the grant must possess a qualifying ownership interest in the capital project and meet requirements set forth by State of Minnesota Capital Grants Manual. A step-by-step guide that describes what grantees need to do to receive state capital grant payments is available in the link below (in green).
A complete application will include three physical copies and one emailed copy of:
- Application form
- Resolution of LGU
- Responses addressing the Tasks outlined in the Task Application Tasks & Guidelines Document linked below
Deadline:
If looking for feedback, application must be received at least 10 days prior to the deadline.
Please submit the electronic copy to [email protected] and the hard copies to:
Attn: MASC- Mighty Ducks
1750 105th Ave. NE
Blaine, MN 55449
In the 2020 5th Special Session, $2,ooo,ooo was appropriated through General Obligation Bonds. Ten applicants have been awarded the total amount of $1,115,337.75. Awards in the 7 County Metro2 total $512,500 and $602,837.75 were awarded to projects in Greater Minnesota. Statute 240A.09(4)(i) states, “To the extent possible, 50 percent of all grants must be awarded to communities in greater Minnesota.” The following James Metzen Mighty Ducks Grants1 have been awarded to:
Champlin, City of $487,500.00
Edina, City of $25,000.00
ISD-882 $9,797.50
New Prague, City of $17,500.00
Steele, County of $42,887.00
Hoyt Lakes, City of $328,758.25
Albert Lea, City of $25,000.00
Delano, City of $25,000.00
Alexandria, City of $10,145.00
East Grand Forks, City of $143,750.00
Matching funds for 10 awarded projected are estimated by applicants to be at least $3,706,153.503. Estimated total project expenses for the 10 awarded applicants is $4,821,491.254.
1 The grant awards are conditional upon applicants meeting MASC and State of Minnesota contracting guidelines.
2 Metro Counties defined as Anoka, Hennepin, Washington, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Ramsey.
3 Matching funds are estimated by applicants based on requests assuming receiving maximum funding. Not all applicants were awarded submitted maximum requested amount due to application requests exceeding available money at time of grant award.
4 Therefore, Matching Funds + Awards do not add up to Estimated Total Project Expense
Questions? Contact us.
Grant History
The Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program was initiated in response to a shortage of available time on ice arenas in all regions of Minnesota. It was a time of significant growth in all ice sports, but especially girls’ ice hockey. The community was already facing a shortage of ice time even without a growing group of female hockey players, but their arrival on the Minnesota sports landscape made the issue even more pressing. Instead of battling head-to-head against an already entrenched male hockey establishment, the MASC pioneered an innovative solution to resolve the shortage and provide greater access for girls to play hockey: help construct additional ice facilities. Thus, the Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program was born.
Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program (1995-2000)
The program provided grants of up to $250,000 to communities seeking to construct new sheets of ice, or $50,000 for renovation projects on existing facilities. These grants were all matched by local private or non-state public funds. The goal was simple: more ice for more players.
James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program (2014-present)
In 2014, the Mighty Ducks Program was revived and renamed the James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program in honor of State Senator James Metzen of South St. Paul. Senator Metzen was one of Minnesota’s most important advocates for amateur sports.
With the revival of the grant program, the mission was adjusted to meet the demands of aging and changing facilities. Phase 2 of the grant program was designed to assist local communities in improving air quality in indoor ice arenas and to provide financial assistance in eliminating the use of R-22 systems in ice arena refrigeration. By keeping existing arenas healthy and operating, the net result was the same as building new facilities- keeping access open and equal for all ice sports players around the state.
View the complete grant award history here.
The grant program is authorized by Minnesota Statute 240A.09.
To view the Minnesota Reference Library report on the Mighty Ducks program – Click Here