A grant to help the REES Theatre group complete the final phase of the renovation of the REES Theatre building was the topic of a public hearing during the Plymouth City Council meeting on Monday night.
Grant Writer Shannon McLeod from Priority Project Resources explained that the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant application that will be considered by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs will be used for the interior renovation of the building.
The basement will remodeled that will contain a dressing room and greenroom for performers, the main theatre will host four-tiered seating that can accommodate auditorium-like seating or seating for a banquet or conference. The lobby will be upgraded with ADA-accessible restrooms. An upper balcony will be remodeled for seating, or a small meeting room, and additional restrooms. The third story will turn into a meeting space, a restroom and office for the future director.
McLeod said the entire cost of the project is about $1.9 million with help from other funding sources in addition to the $500,000 grant.
“The City has committed $575,000 of TIF funds, or redevelopment funds, to be used for the project,” commented McLeod. “REES Theatre, Inc. applied for and received a $300,000 Regional Cities Initiative Grant and the last portion of it, which is about $555,000 is coming from pledges. All of those funds are being administered through the Marshall County Community Foundation.”
The grant application will be submitted this Friday with the grant announcement to be made around Aug. 15. If the application is not successful in this grant round, another opportunity will be available to apply.
There were no public comments given during the public hearing.
The Plymouth City Council members then approved several documents pertaining to the submission of the grant application including the adoption of the Four Factor Analysis, a resolution authorizing the application submission and local match commitment, and the authorization for Mayor Mark Senter, Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver and City Attorney Sean Surrisi to sign grant paperwork.
