The Downtown Development Partnership voted during their Aug. 27 meeting to recommend approval of an additional $382,690 in tax increment financing funds to complete Mansfield Theater improvement projects.

The city commission approved $400,000 in TIF funds last year toward the project, which also received $250,000 in a Montana Historic Preservation Act grant and $567,500 in State Local Infrastructure Partnership Act funds.

Commissioners will consider the request and have the final say on the funds.

If approved, it would bring the total TIF allocation for the Civic Center projects to $782,690.

Old Mansfield Theater seats for sale as replacement project gets started

The projects include replacing the theater seats, restoring the theater ceiling and upgrading the Civic Center elevator, which is expected to see more use as the Municipal Court moves upstairs.

City Commissioners approved contracts for the seats and the ceiling restoration with funding shortfalls.

In May, they approved a $445,000 contract for the ceiling repair to Custom Plaster, LLC as a sole-sourced project, with $250,000 of state grant funds and $147,300 of downtown TIF funds leaving a $47,700 shortfall.

City approves Mansfield Theater ceiling repair project, also with a shortfall

In May, city staff wrote in their agenda report that they were continuing their fundraising efforts to support Mansfield Theater projects and any money raised would be used toward that shortfall before additional city funds are used.

The ceiling project shortfall comes after commissioners approved the $995,190 seating contract in December, at which time, staff said they recommended awarding the contract despite the overage of $345,190, plus $12,000 in design fees to Nelson Architects.

At that time, staff said they were intending to fundraise to make up the Mansfield projects shortfall.

In March, city staff told commissioners that with the seats and ceiling projects, they were looking at a $389,890 shortfall of available funding for the Mansfield projects.

Facing shortfall for Mansfield theater projects, staff looking to private donors

During the Aug. 27 Downtown Development Partnership meeting, city staff said the shortfall was now $382,690.

When commissioners approved the initial $400,000 of TIF funds in 2024, the seat project was estimated at $611,500 and the ceiling project was an estimated $397,300 and the elevator was $120,000 for a total of $1,128,800 and the city had a funding package of $1,217,500, according to city staff.

But, bids came back significantly higher at $1,007,190 for the seats; $445,000 for the ceiling and $158,000 for the elevator, for a total cost of $1,610,190.

The seating bids were also based on initial, incorrect information, according to staff.

Mansfield seat project progressing, staff looking at fundraising options

In May 9 email to The Electric, Tom Hazen, city grants manager, wrote that the SLIPA application was based on an older estimate that had been presented “to the Mansfield as a ‘quote’ that was purported to be good for five years. Unfortunately, outside factors caused price increases that caused bid submissions to exceed the estimate. And the estimate was for a lower number of chairs.  Mansfield was, at that time, considering having an open ‘standing area’ in front of the stage for contemporary music shows that could be filled with portable seating for traditional shows. Unfortunately, this design difference was not taken into account when the SLIPA applications were prepared.”

Staff told commissioners in December as they voted to approve a contract totaling more than available funds that they’d begin a fundraising campaign.

City approves Mansfield seat replacement contract [2024]

In February, city staff told the Mansfield Advisory Board that they’d start making donation asks the following week.

Staff told commissioners during the March 18 meeting that if they were okay with the proposed donation tiers for fundraising they presented that night, staff would start making asks.

Commissioners approved the ceiling restoration contract in May with a shortfall and asked no questions about the contract, funding shortage or status of staff’s fundraising efforts toward the theater projects.

In a May 9 email response to The Electric regarding the project shortfall and fundraising, Hazen wrote that “staff is still reaching out to potential individual and corporate donors requesting contributions to the project. At this time, unfortunately, we have not received any donations to help address the difference. The city still plans to pursue donations and will submit an additional request to the TIF for funding. The hope remains to fund this project with non-general fund dollars. However, if there is not sufficient capital contributed to the campaign the city may be forced to consider project scope adjustments to meet the funding available.”

City Commission approves TIF funds for Mansfield Theater projects [2024]

Staff said during the Aug. 27 Downtown Development Partnership meeting as the board considered staff’s request for more TIF funding that they had attempted fundraising, presenting information packets to local donors and made direct contact with large corporate and individual donations. Hazen said staff met with the Mansfield Advisory Board and the Great Falls Symphony Association for endorsements and support.

“Unfortunately, none of these parties were willing to donate,” Hazen told the DPP, as those contacted didn’t feel they should support a government agency through donations.

Hazen said though it’s the city, arts funding is declining and within the city, the theater has to compete with other priorities, such as public safety.

City approves new Mansfield business model [2024]

The city attempted to sell the old theater seats as a fundraiser and raised about $3,000, staff said during the Aug. 27 DDP meeting.

The remaining old seats have since been disposed of since the city didn’t have storage space, staff said.

Mansfield Theater projects were identified as a potential priority use of ARPA funds in 2022, and eventually set as a second tier project, but no funding was allocated at the time as the previous commission opted to wait until the city received notification of the result of an application for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant application. The city was awarded a $250,000 grant.

Local projects receive historic preservation grants [2023]

In March 2025, Hazen and Sylvia Tarman of the city finance reviewed the city’s projects being funded through the State-Local Infrastructure Partnership Act that the Montana Legislature approved in 2023.

The Mansfield seat replacement project is one of them.

City seeking grant for Mansfield Theater improvements [2022]

The theater currently has 1,780 seats with 917 on the main floor, 282 on the lower balcony and 581 on the upper balcony, according to the city.

Owen Grubenhoff, Civic Center events manager, told the advisory board in January that staff was going with deeper and wider seats, but trying to maintain about 1,500 seats.