Lehi City announces the opening of the 3rd annual Cultural Organization Grants (PARC Grant) program. Starting today, Monday, March 13th, non-profit organizations can submit their applications for a share of the funding. Approximately $400,000 of the Parks, Arts, Recreation, and Culture (PARC) tax goes to grants.
“We’re hoping to see more applications this year and help those amazing non-profit organizations that are working hard in Lehi,” said Nicole Kunze, the PARC Advisory Chair.
Lehi voters approved the PARC tax on November 2, 2021, which funds the PARC Grant. As established by the City Council, the distribution for the PARC tax allocation is currently 70% towards parks and recreation and 30% towards arts and culture. The first grants were awarded to the non-profit organizations Hutchings Museum, Lehi Historical Society & Archives, Lehi Arts Council, and Thanksgiving Point Institute.
“The Cultural Organization Grants have helped preserve historical artifacts at Hutchings Museum and made Lehi history more accessible online through the Lehi Historical Society and Archives,” said Kunze. “The grants have also opened new theater opportunities for children and adults at the Lehi Arts Center.” Kunze also mentioned that Thanksgiving Point Institute began programs specifically for residents of Lehi.
To qualify to apply for the grant, organizations must meet the following requirements:
- The organization has a significant presence in Lehi City.
- The organization’s primary purpose is the advancement and preservation of (i) natural history, (ii) art, (iii) music, (iv) theater, (v) dance, or (vi) cultural arts, including literature, a motion picture, or storytelling.
- The organization is not an agency of the state.
- The organization is not a political subdivision of the state.
- The organization is not an educational institution whose annual revenues are derived more than 50% from state funds.
- The organization is not a radio or television broadcasting network or station, cable communication system, newspaper, or magazine.
- The organization is a private nonprofit organization and certificated by the Internal revenue Service as an organization qualifying under § 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue code.
Applicants have from Monday, February 19 to Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. to turn in applications. Presentations of the applications and the PARC Committee review will be held from mid-April through the end of May. The City Council will make the final decision on the PARC projects and funding on June 11, 2024, at 7 p.m.
The PARC Advisory Committee is hosting an application workshop to give assistance to organizations on the application process. The workshop will discuss the requirements for the grant, what is included in a strong application, and the grant review criteria. The upcoming workshop is Monday, March 25, 2024, at 6pm. The workshop will be held in the Council Chambers at 153 North 100 East. To learn more about the Cultural Organization Grants and RSVP for the workshop, visit https://www.lehi-ut.gov/cultural-org-grants/.
