Jill Schramm/MDN The YWCA Minot hopes to replace its long-time downtown building with a new facility to better accommodate its shelter and other services. The organization is one of three from Minot seeking City of Minot sponsorship in appling for a federal grant.

Three Minot nonprofits plan to seek federal dollars for construction projects to bring new or improved services to the community.

The YWCA Minot, Souris Valley Animal Shelter and Magic City Discovery Center are looking to apply for grants through the Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment program called Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot, which targets communities serving military installations. The Minot City Council will consider their requests to act as the government pass-through agency for any grants at a meeting Tuesday.

The YWCA operates a homeless shelter for women and children, providing an emergency shelter, community closet and the Dakota Diaper Pantry and Fresh Start Shower programs.

The organization proposes to build a new campus because the needs of the community have pushed the current 11,250-square-foot shelter to its limits. The building can house 14 women, but due to high demand, it is usually housing closer to 30 women and their children, according to information from the YWCA. In 2019, the Center of Hope provided 3,403 nights of shelter. From January through May this year, the Community Closet provided free personal care, clothing and household goods to 170 members of the community.

An $18 million grant from the Department of Defense would provide funds to acquire the land and build a new campus. The campus would consist of 15,184 square feet of living space, including a community resource center that would house the diaper pantry and other programs, play areas for children and handicapped-accessible services. The YWCA reports the innovative building will use solar panels and geothermal energy. Excess power created will be returned to the community and the grid.

Souris Valley Animal Shelter is proposing a $3.2 million remodeling and rebuilding project, of which $487,000 already has been spent on preliminary work and the bid process. The organization has $742,000 in cash donations and $150,000 in-kind donations to apply toward the project.

The shelter is requesting a grant of $3 million to bridge the gap between funds already spent and funds needed to complete the project, including furnishings and equipment.

The shelter has been in place for more than 40 years, helping about 100,000 animals and people. The organization serves the counties of Ward, Burke, Mountrail, Dunn, McLean, Bottineau, Renville, Wells, Pierce, McHenry, Ramsey and Divide. It also contracts with Minot Air Force Base.

The organization looks to remodel and add on because its current building lacks indoor space to provide exercise for shelter pets. Space constraints create stress for animals and prevent fully isolating ill animals. In addition, the building has issues that include mold, insufficient airflow, structural rotting and minimal natural sunlight.

The Magic City Discovery Center is seeking $6.3 million toward a $11.9 million project to construct a 22,099-square-foot children’s museum on North Hill. The remainder of the money has been raised in donations.