The 2015 Minnesota legislative session appropriated $2 million for improvements to ice hockey arenas in another round of Mighty Ducks funding. The new round of Mighty Ducks grants will be administered by the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC.)

The legislature directed the MASC to focus the grants on eliminating the use of R-22 refrigerant and improving the indoor air quality of arenas.

The legislation stipulates grants for the rehabilitation or renovation of equipment to improve air quality may not exceed $200,000. Grants for the rehabilitation or renovation necessary to eliminate R-22 may not exceed $50,000 for indirect cooling systems and may not exceed $400,000 for direct cooling systems. 

The grants will require a minimum dollar-for-dollar match from non-state funding sources.

Applications must be postmarked by October 1, 2015.  Grant applications must come from a local government unit (LGU), a political subdivision of the State.

Last year, the MASC awarded 11 grants totaling $1.5 million. Communities that received Mighty Ducks grants last year included Austin, Champlin, East Grand Forks, International Falls, New Hope, Sartell, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Winona, and the Dassel-Cokato and Kittson Central School Districts.

For more details, visit www.mnsports.org/mighty_ducks

Editor's Note: The text above was provided in an official press release by the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. It is shared here with the intent of increasing awareness of the grants within our community based associations and arenas. Minnesota Hockey has no direct involvement with the awarding of these grants.