Edmonds Center for the Arts Receives Snohomish County Lodging Fund Grant

Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) is awarded a $225,000.00 grant from the Snohomish County Lodging Fund to help repair the roof over the Center's gymnasium and classroom facilities.

The gymnasium and the theatre were constructed in 1939 as part of President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration (WPA). Each building is a critical component of the campus and helps ECA attract more than 65,000 visitors annually for performing arts, sports and special events. The Edmonds Public Facilities District and Edmonds Center for the Arts Board Members and Staff are thrilled that the gymnasium will receive these much-needed repairs.

The aging roof over portions of ECA's facilities has caused water intrusion in the gymnasium and has led to restricted use and/or closures during rainy periods. These disruptions have negatively impacted one of our community's greatest assets.

The check was presented to Edmonds Public Facilities District Board President Marla Miller and ECA Executive Director Joe McIalwain by the Snohomish County Council Chair Terry Ryan, who also serves as the Chair of the Snohomish County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. McIalwain said of the grant, "With this incredible gift, ECA will be able to repair the roof over our gymnasium and classroom spaces, and preserve and protect these historical and culturally significant facilities for years to come. The gymnasium and these classroom spaces serve as a home and a resource for Sno-King Youth Club, Sno-King Music Educators, Rick Steves' Europe, Sno-Isle Libraries' TEDx events, the Frank DeMiero Jazz Festival, Puget Sound Partnership, and many other non-profit organizations and cultural groups too numerous to mention. ECA is a hub for culture and connectivity, and brings thousands of people to Edmonds and to Snohomish County from throughout and beyond the State of Washington."

The ECA roof repair is one of the first projects funded under the new program established by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee designed to assist Public Facilities Districts (PFDs) with capital maintenance issues. Everett's Xfinity Arena also received support to help fund the replacement of the arena scoreboard. "Xfinity Arena and Edmonds Center for the Arts provide the energy and vitality essential for a thriving economy. We are proud of these facilities and how much they contribute to our community" said Snohomish County Councilman Terry Ryan. "These capital grants will help to ensure their continued success".

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