Submitted Photo Participating in a check presentation from Minot Area Community Foundation to Local Motives and Levitt AMP Minot are, from left, Emerson Ackerman, Teresa Loftesnes, Staci Kenney, Jason Zimmerman, Jazmine Schultz, Jessica Ackerman, Josh Wolsky, Eden Jackson-Jones and Marrissa Beck.

The Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) has announced a $26,930 grant to Local Motives in support of the inaugural Levitt AMP Minot Music Series. The grant is funded through MACF’s Chuck and Madge Westlie Fund.

The Levitt AMP Minot Music Series is bringing free live music to downtown Minot throughout the summer, creating opportunities for residents and visitors to gather, connect and experience a diverse lineup of performers. The series is made possible through a grant from the Levitt Foundation, which selected Minot as part of its national program supporting free outdoor music in communities across the country.

Local Motives, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating community and opportunity in downtown Minot, will host the series at Citizens Alley. As the operator of Citizens Alley, Local Motives has worked to create vibrant community experiences that strengthen connections and enhance quality of life in Minot.

“The Levitt AMP Minot Music Series is about enlivening spaces like Citizens Alley, where people come together, feel welcome and connect with each other,” said Jessica Ackerman, founder of Local Motives. “Minot is a place where culture, community and possibility thrive, and this series is a celebration of that. Thanks to MACF’s generous support, we’re able to offer something truly special in this first season. We’re grateful this community makes it possible and that people are showing up to be part of it.”

As part of the Levitt AMP program, recipient communities are required to secure matching funds locally. MACF’s grant helps fulfill that requirement, ensuring the Levitt Foundation funding can be fully utilized to bring the concert series to Minot. The Levitt Foundation’s support represents a three-year matching grant opportunity, with 2026 marking the first season of performances in Minot.

“This project is a great example of what can happen when local organizations, national partners and community supporters come together around a shared vision,” said Jason Zimmerman, MACF president. “We’re excited to support this opportunity in Minot and look forward to seeing the impact it has on our community and region.”