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Manitou volunteers ask MATCH board for $20,000 to seed community center at St. Andrews
Summary
Volunteers leading the 'Upstairs at the Stack' proposal urged the Manitou Springs MATCH Board to award a $20,000 seed grant to lease and launch programming at the upstairs portion of the deconsecrated St. Andrews building, citing community demand and a planned nonprofit operator.
Nancy Fortune, a volunteer lead for the 'Upstairs at the Stack' proposal, told the Manitou Springs MATCH Board she is seeking a $20,000 seed grant to start a dedicated community center in the upstairs of the former St. Andrews building, which St. Michael’s (the local Episcopal partner) would lease to the community group.
Fortune said the applicants have a firm commitment from the building manager to begin a 360‑day lease on April 1 but do not yet have a signed agreement; the planned first‑year lease cost is $40,000. She submitted a proposed first‑year operating budget of $55,000 that allocates $40,000 to rent and anticipates $8,000 in use fees and other revenue streams; the applicants reported $4,000 in current seed funds from an arcade fundraiser.
The proposal envisions an upstairs community center programmed for musical performances, yoga, art exhibits, book clubs, youth groups and low‑cost community rentals while the downstairs of the building will continue to operate as a food pantry and health service site. Fortune said MATCH dollars would be restricted to upstairs programming and startup costs, not the downstairs mission.
Board members pressed the presenters on the lease and timeline. Jason Wells asked whether an option or signed lease was in place; Fortune replied the church and organizers have a firm commitment to start a lease in April and that the group expects the lease to run April 1 through the following March. Fortune added that the lease is expected to increase in year two (she said the owners had suggested a possible rise to about $52,000). The group said they plan to ask for monthly payments rather than a single upfront payment.
Members also asked about accessibility and restroom access. Fortune said the church is working to construct an upstairs restroom and that St. Michael’s has agreed to certain accessibility improvements, though she could not give a completion date. On inclusivity, Marcus Medina asked whether LGBTQ events would be allowed; Fortune said the project will operate under an anti‑discrimination policy and that St. Michael’s had agreed to the community organization’s approach.
Fortune emphasized that seed funding is needed to preserve momentum and meet lease conditions: "Without Match's help to get things started, we may not be able to capitalize on the community's excitement and growing support," she said. She told the board she expects to begin programming in the second quarter of 2026 if funding and lease conditions are met.
Ralph Boutton, chair of the MATCH Board, reminded the presenters that the board will transmit recommendations to the city work session on March 10 and that the city council will vote on March 17; he said the board might ask the applicants to attend the work session if council questions arise. Boutton also requested that the applicants email missing attachments (photos and community engagement results) so staff can include them in the packet.
What happens next: the MATCH Board will consider this request as part of its grant deliberations; any award from MATCH will be included in the board’s recommendations to the city council at the March work session.
