Minnesota Lottery Proceeds Help Support Lake Superior Zoo

The zoo relies on the consistent funding from the lottery, about $140,000 each year, to help maintain daily operations and find different ways to bring more people through the doors

DULUTH, Minn. – A trust fund established by the Minnesota Lottery has helped provide millions of dollars to support environmental projects across the Northland.

“It’s the zoo’s mission to inspire conservation in this region and the lottery is proud to play a small role in helping you deliver on your mission,” Michael Vekich, Executive Director of the Minnesota Lottery, said in a press conference held Friday at Lake Superior Zoo.

Since 2001, Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth has received nearly $2.5 million from the Minnesota Lottery through the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

“It supports our programs, such as our educational programming both on site and off site,” said Julene Boe, Interim CEO at the Lake Superior Zoo.

The zoo relies on the consistent funding from the lottery, about $140,000 each year, to help maintain daily operations and find different ways to bring more people through the doors.

“It’s really important for folks to understand that the zoo doesn’t run on admission revenue alone,” said State Rep. Erik Simonson (DFL) of Duluth. “That holds true for every zoo across Minnesota. Finding sources of money that can help support programs, support animals, support care for animals is really important for the zoo’s existence. And Duluth’s zoo is really important for west Duluth, I know that.”

After flood water damaged portions of the zoo in 2012, the trust fund helped with recovery efforts and continues to help it grow today.

“We’re doing better than we have,” said Boe. “We still need to work at it, but we continue to grow stronger financially.”

Rep. Simonson says he’s heard some concern from residents about the state’s involvement in the lottery, but believes it’s played an important role in helping grow environmental efforts in the Northland.

“Using some of the proceeds in manners that help to go forward protecting clean water, our environment, our natural resources, I think makes the best sense. The LCCMR (Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources) has done a really good job about distributing those funds towards projects that make good sense for sustainability of our environment.”