The event was a celebration of the city attractions to come and the collaboration among businesses and organizations that is bringing these projects to life.

One of the projects revealed is Aurora Nights, an exploration of culture featuring unique, educational, and celebratory culinary experiences curated by the Prairie Sky Breads team and culture bearers from under the Aurora Borealis, including Scandinavian, Indigenous, and German-Russian cultures and local growers.

No. 18 is to be a marketplace featuring a farm-to-table eatery, games, entertainment and more in a historic downtown building.

Citizens Alley will be transformed into a pedestrian-only public plaza featuring a fountain, splash pad, art installations and seasonal amenities.

Submitted Photo From left, Jazmine Schultz, Zack Schultz, Travis Gerjets, Jessica Ackerman, Stephanie Schoenrock, Mayor Tom Ross, Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, Eric Thoemke and Nick Holwegner stand behind banners describing each of the four grant-supported projects Wednesday.

Atypical Bier Hall and Igloos will include an expanded all-season event space featuring geodesic domes, or igloos, and a heated pergola that offers year-round activities.

“We’re excited about the potential of these innovative projects to elevate Minot’s appeal as a travel destination,” Stephanie Schoenrock, executive director for Visit Minot, said at the event. “Each of the groups used a strategic destination development approach to create attractions that will give visitors and area residents more reasons to explore and experience our downtown, benefiting the community as a whole.”

Other speakers were Minot Mayor Tom Ross and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, as well as the small business owners heading each of the four projects, including Jessica Ackerman of Askal Group, Jazmine Schultz of Prairie Sky Breads, Nick Holwegner of Atypical Brewery and Barrelworks and Eric Thomke of Indak Media.

Some of the projects are already underway, and Minot residents and visitors can expect to see some of Atypical Brewery’s geodesic domes this winter as well as Prairie Sky Breads’ Aurora Nights project launching in January. The other projects are anticipated to be in full swing by summer of next year.

Last year, Visit Minot received a $1 million grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce on behalf of the four downtown small businesses. The Destination Development Grant fund provided $25 million for projects across the state. Minot’s application was one of only 14 projects selected for funding.

“These Destination Development Grants are really designed to ensure we have healthy, vibrant communities, to retain our current residents and also attract new residents who can help solve some of our workforce challenges,” Miller said. “We were so excited about what happened in Minot because they collaborated together on four different projects, versus competing against each other, to really put together a great application for four great projects.”

Schoenrock said Visit Minot is facilitating the grant but isn’t utilizing the funds itself.

“Visit Minot is not keeping one dollar. We are keeping zero dollars of this grant. We are just the administrator of the application. But if we hadn’t done the application this way, we would have never received the grant,” Schoenrock said.

“The Destination Development grants provide a first-ever incentive to support tourism development projects across North Dakota,” said Sara Otte Coleman, Tourism and Marketing director with the North Dakota Department of Commerce, in a Visit Minot news release. “The Minot project is an innovative approach to enhancing several downtown tourism offerings. We look forward to seeing these businesses work together to make Minot an even more appealing destination for visitors.”

“We’re so excited about these projects in Minot because they are also incorporating the outdoors, with the skating rink in the alley, and it just gives people so much more to do and to embrace every season in our great state,” Miller said.