The Sumner Downtown Association has become a 501(c)3 nonprofit, according to a statement by Executive Director Arla Holzschuh during the Tuesday city council meeting. 

SDA was previously a 501(c)6 organization, a tax classification that allowed it to accept charitable donations, but disallowed it from offering tax deductible write-offs in exchange. The new tax status will allow the downtown association to offer that tax deduction.

Holzschuh mentioned the change in status while discussing the possibility of a town monument to veterans of the armed services and police and fire departments, a project tentatively called “Gardens of Glory.”

“We’re very excited at having this new status,” she said.

The downtown association only has verbal confirmation of its new status, but a document of confirmation will soon arrive by mail, she said.