Boise Contemporary Theater, the Boise Philharmonic and the Basque Museum & Cultural Center are each the recipients of a $10,000 grant from the city’s economic development fund. The city created the fund in 2009. Rental proceeds from city-owned rail property in Southeast Boise fill the coffers.

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Trey McIntyre Project will share the honors of being this year’s Economic Cultural Ambassadors. This is the second time Trey McIntyre has held the title. Each will receive $15,000.

What’s the tie between the arts and the city’s economic development? Bieter announced the awards Thursday after a presentation by Randy Cohen, vice president of Research and Policy for the Americans for the Arts. Cohen spoke about recent studies by his organization that found the arts are a vital component in a city’s social and economic health. The Americans for Arts study revealed how powerful our arts organizations are at driving our local economy,” Bieter said. “Boise’s arts organizations generate more than $48 million toward our local economy, creating approximately 1,600 full-time jobs.”

A cool detail: Since Boise City is marking its 150th anniversary next year, the grant recipients have pledged to use a portion of the money on projects that will commemorate that milestone.