http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-914417.mp3
Burlington, IA – The Capitol Theater closed its doors in 1977. The final movie was Carrie.
Steve Frevert with Downtown Partners, Inc. says efforts to restore and reopen the theater have been ongoing for years. He says they are picking up steam, though, thanks to the availability of state money.
Frevert says a portion of the latest round of I-JOBS money has been set aside for Main Street communities.
The Capitol Theater Foundation was originally going to apply for about $400,000 for the project. Frevert says the group was told, by Main Street leaders at the state level, to apply for $1,000,000.
The foundation has agreed to back a $1,000,000 application.
Frevert says restoring and reopening the Capitol Theater would greatly enhance the cultural opportunities already available in downtown Burlington.
"This is something that will bring in people from both the town and around the region on evenings and weekends," said Frevert. "So we can really make this as much as a 24-hour downtown as possible, rather than having everything just close up at 5:00 P.M. on a weekday."
The project is expected to cost about $2,800,000.
Frevert says about $1,000,000 would still need to be raised locally. He says the Capitol Theater Foundation has hired a consulting firm to determine fundraising opportunities.
The Burlington City Council and the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors have both pledged their support, though not financial, for the project.