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Moorhead Cultural Mall organizers seek county support, list $7 million project and major funding leads
Summary
Organizers for a proposed Moorhead Cultural Mall told the Clay County Board they have acquired a building and secured about $3 million for purchase, are raising the remainder of a roughly $7 million budget, and asked the county for letters and partnership on federal and state grant applications.
Organizers of a Moorhead Cultural Mall presented plans Tuesday to Clay County commissioners and requested county partnership and letters of support as they seek remainder funding to renovate a downtown building into a multi‑use cultural and small‑business incubator.
Fauzia Adi and Seham Ahmedi, who described themselves as organizers of the Moorhead Cultural Mall effort, said a steering group of immigrant‑serving and inclusive‑community organizations has run cultural pop‑up events at the Yumkam Center to test market demand and to identify potential entrepreneurs. They said the project would host bakeries, food vendors, makers, traditional crafts and cultural performances, and would also function as a training and incubator site for small entrepreneurs.
Adi told the board the project team has identified and secured financing to buy the American Square building and has raised nearly $3 million toward acquisition costs. The organizers said total project cost is about $7 million and they are seeking additional federal funding (Department of Health and Human Services and other grant streams), as well as state funding requested through Senate File 907 (SF 907) for approximately $4 million.
The presenters said they have a mix of private and public support and that the project team has letters from the city, chamber and local partners; they noted the project has applied for a grant that opens in June and asked the county to provide updated letters of support for that application. Adi said project leaders expect to offer affordable, short‑term rental space for entrepreneurs to test products and grow businesses and described the mall as an incubator to help nascent businesses scale.
Commissioners asked about parking and operations; presenters said they plan to work with adjacent property owners (including the railroad) and downtown stakeholders to secure parking and to coordinate transit connections for customers. Commissioners expressed general support and encouraged organizers to return with details on grant timelines and specific partnership requests.
Ending
Organizers asked the county for future letters of support and to stay engaged as state and federal grant application windows open. The board did not commit county funds at Tuesday’s meeting; county staff offered to provide technical support and to consider letters backing grant applications.
