LEWISTON — Twin Cities’ arts agency, L/A Arts, is in much better condition than it was a year ago, thanks to the support of many benefactors, especially local developer Dave Gendron, Executive Director Josh Vink said.

He singled out Gendron as one of the main individuals to step forward and help get L/A Arts back on track.

“Saving us is an appropriate way to say what happened,” Vink said. “Whether we could have made it without him is a question. We are thankful we had him on board so we did not have to answer that.”

Vink said the agency is kicking off a spring campaign to pay off the agency’s remaining debt and firm up its week-to-week operations budget.

“Right now, we are very close to being debt-free,” Vink said. “We still face some cash-on-hand issues, but not like we were. We are in full confidence now that we are going to be around. We really just need one last push to get debt-free and really get us on our feet.”

The arts agency announced last July that it was considering bankruptcy and had drifted from its original mission. Board members said the group had amassed more than $100,000 in debt and had limited funds to pay that back.

The agency’s outlook was much brighter by the fall, thanks to the support of local individuals, groups and businesses and some grants that paid off as much 75 percent of the debt.

Vink said Gendron was responsible for much of the agency’s rescue.

“He came at a time when our debts were really outstanding and we were unable to make our payments,” Vink said. “We were losing cash on hand and there were questions about if we would even be able to keep open.”

Vink said the agency worked with Gendron and his property manager, Todd Spencer, to come up with an undisclosed amount of support. Spencer, speaking on behalf of Gendron, said it’s a program he values.

“He feels it’s very valuable for the community and the school system,” Spencer said. “It’s very vital.”

Vink said L/A Arts was able to sustain a 10-week poetry program in Lewiston and Auburn schools and to continue the popular downtown Lewiston Art Walks.

The agency is also working on the New Tree Grid, a series of public art projects that will wind their way through the Twin Cities.

Vink said he could not disclose specific numbers, but 90 percent of the agency’s more than $100,000 debt is gone.

“If we can offset our debt and maybe get a little extra, we can make it on the operation side,” Vink said. “We’ve been working very hard to build for the future.”

Questions or offers for help should be directed to the L/A Arts office, 782-7228, or its website: www.laarts.org.

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