St. Paul approves more than $3.3 million in STAR grants for neighborhood and cultural projects
St. Paul City Council approved more than $3.3 million in Sales Tax Revitalization, or STAR, program funding on July 8 for neighborhood capital projects, arts and cultural work, library materials and sidewalk repair.
The city said the funding package covers 33 local capital-improvement projects and programs and 78 arts and cultural projects. More than $2.1 million was approved through Neighborhood STAR, while more than $1.1 million was approved through Cultural STAR.
The approvals represent city funding for a range of local projects and programs rather than a single construction initiative. The available city announcement does not include a recipient-by-recipient award table or completion dates for individual projects.
Funding split between neighborhood and cultural work
Neighborhood STAR received the larger share of the newly approved funding, with more than $2.1 million for competitive neighborhood capital projects. The city described the awards as supporting local capital-improvement projects and programs.
Cultural STAR received more than $1.1 million for 78 arts and cultural projects. Together, the neighborhood and cultural portions make up the principal components of the more than $3.3 million package approved by the council.
The STAR program also includes annual budget allocations for Saint Paul Public Libraries and for Saint Paul Public Works sidewalk repair. The city did not provide dollar amounts for those annual allocations in its announcement.
Program has operated since 1995
St. Paul has operated the STAR program since 1995. The program uses a portion of a half-cent sales tax for commercial revitalization and cultural projects, according to the city.
Over that period, the city says Neighborhood STAR has assisted more than 1,250 projects and programs with more than $137 million in grant and loan assistance. Those historical figures describe the program’s cumulative activity and are separate from the funding approved in July.
The July 8 council action is the confirmed approval date for this funding package. The city’s announcement does not identify a further council deadline, a timeline for each project to begin or finish, or when individual recipients will receive funds.
For residents and organizations connected to the selected projects, the action establishes the city-approved STAR funding for the listed neighborhood, cultural, library and sidewalk-repair purposes. The city has not provided enough detail in the announcement to determine the scope, location or schedule of every individual award.