Minnesota's Asian Pacific Cultural Center Challenge Grant.

From Naomi Chu, Executive Director of the APCC effort in Minnesota (612-282-1915), nchu@apccmn.org:

The Asian Pacific Cultural Center is pleased to announce that two generous donors have issued a challenge to the community to match their $50,000 commitment to the Asian Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) by the end of 2008. APCC is now looking for contributions from the community to reach the $50,000 match.

A total of $100,000 in commitments to APCC will provide adequate funding and ensure stable operations through the 2009 legislative session, during which APCC will re-submit its request for state bonding. APCC was awarded $5 million from the Minnesota State Legislature for the re-development of a portion of the former Hamm’s Brewery in St. Paul during the 2008 session, but the award was line-item vetoed by Governor Pawlenty in May 2008.

Your contribution now will double the impact and support for APCC. To make a contribution, go to the APCC web site, http://www.apccmn.org/ and click on “contribute”, or you can send a gift to the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, P.O. Box 4097, St. Paul, MN 55104.

Over the past two months, the APCC Board of Directors and staff have weighed the organization’s options following the line-item veto. Through discussions with legislative leaders, community leaders, and APCC’s foundation and corporate partners, it was determined APCC will continue to focus on developing the former Hamm’s Brewery, and will pursue state support during the 2009 legislative session.

The Asian Pacific Cultural Center mission is to celebrate, promote, and foster understanding of Asian Pacific cultural heritage. APCC is a nonprofit organization engaged in providing all Minnesotans the opportunity to further their understanding of Minnesota’s Asian Pacific communities and their cultures. APCC will provide space to Asian Pacific community organizations, and serve all Minnesotans through art, music, dance, education, and language studies; while creating bridges for inter-generational and inter-ethnic understanding.

APCC’s efforts are currently directed toward funding and building a new destination place for Minnesotans: a 55,000 square foot Asian Pacific Cultural Center facility. Proposed as part of a mixed-use re-development of the former Hamm’s Brewery on Minnehaha Avenue in St. Paul, the facility will include a theater/cinema, a large banquet hall and kitchen, a multimedia/resource library, and multiple classrooms and offices.