DEFAULT IS NOT IN OUR STARS, BUT IN OURSELVES: Part 10 — Brother, Can You Spare A (Million) Dime(s)?

Turns out, there was another Wenonah Park project grant application.

Hint: it was unsuccessful.

“MULTIPLE COMMUNITY LEADERS”: I know a guy, who knows a guy…who knows another guy.

As detailed in a recent post, the City of Bay City submitted an application in June 2022 for a $900,000 MEDC $900,000 Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) Program grant.

And while the “grant could not move forward as planned”, it wasn’t the only attempt at collecting cash for the State Theatre’s Wenonah Park project.

On June 1, 2022, Mike Bacigalupo submitted a grant application to the Michigan Arts & Culture Council — requesting $100,000 for an equipment upgrade for the Wenonah Park’s Band Shell.

Here’s an excerpt from the document, which I obtained via a public records request.

The document reads like a bottom-scraping attempt at picking up some “spare change”, while simultaneously burnishing the State Theatre’s street cred.

In the narrative, Bacigalupo asserts the “City of Bay City empowers the State Theatre of Bay City/Bay County to renovate and improve what is needed in Wenonah Park”.

In addition, he claims “multiple community leaders” have confirmed a “$273,000 commitment” to enable the project to go forward.

However, there’s no way to independently confirm any financial “commitment” that may have been offered to the State Theatre.

The State’s public financial disclosures (including their IRS Form 990 reports) came to a halt at the fiscal year ending December 30, 2020.

In addition, the claim that the “City of Bay City empowers the State Theatre of Bay City/Bay County to renovate and improve what is needed in Wenonah Park” is what the Brits call “bollocks”.

And it became “double bollocks” when Bacigalupo proffered as proof the June 19, 2017 “Maintenance And Management Agreement For Wenonah Park” with the grant application.

While there is an approved agreement, it does not cover renovation, improvement or future development.

The truth is in the excerpt shown below, taken from a December 30, 2020 State Theatre financial report obtained via a public records request from the City of Bay City.

You note that the “Theatre has a verbal agreement with the City of Bay City to build, insure, and maintain the pavilion, accessory building, and the band shell in Wenonah Park”.

Caught ya!

When Good Grants Go Bad:

You might say it’s moot — the $100,000 was denied.

However, in the application, Bacigalupo included lists of 2022 State Theatre Donors & Concert Series Sponsors.

Wonder if any of them were given receipts by the “State Theatre of Bay City/Bay County”?

Inquiring minds would like to know.