The incentive program continues to play an instrumental role in the preservation of historic structures in Duluth and around the state, but it could soon expire.
From the editorial: "Rethos plans to establish an office in Duluth in July, stepping up its sharing of expertise here and its ability to attract dollars to save and restore old places. Its presence in Duluth promises to bolster the economic-development power of historic preservation throughout the Northland."
To date, the tax credits have been used to bring forward at least 10 other projects in Duluth.
Heidi Swank, executive director of Rethos, a St. Paul-based nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and reuse of old buildings, said she had hoped for a longer extension but expressed thanks for the additional year lawmakers granted the program.
If not for the focus on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Swank expressed confidence the credit program would have garnered enough support to gain a longer extension. Our plan will be to really spend time with legislators over the interim, educating them on the tax credit, taking them out to sites so the can see the projects the program supports and helping them get a better feel for the impact it has on our local communities, Swank said of the preparation for the next legislative session. We just need to do more education.