Rendell Administration Announces $500,000 Renovation to Historical Seville Theater in Montgomery County

Rendell Administration Announces $500,000 Renovation to Historical Seville Theater in Montgomery County

Anchor Building Program to help redevelop the former Seville Theater in Bryn Mawr

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- At Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell's direction, the Department of Community and Economic Development announced the release of $500,000 today to help Lower Merion Township renovate the former Seville Theater in Bryn Mawr. The project will create 22 full-time and 32 part-time jobs.

The theater was re-opened in March 2005 as a cultural film exhibition and education center and is already attracting people in the Montgomery County neighborhood.

"The Seville Theater is a vital piece of Montgomery County history," said DCED Deputy Secretary Ken Klothen. "Because the Bryn Mawr Film Institute and the commonwealth were able to work together, this important asset will be enjoyed by future generations and Bryn Mawr will benefit as more people visit the downtown."

Lower Merion Township will loan the $500,000 Anchor Building grant to the theater's current occupant, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, an organization created by civic and academic leaders to strengthen the local community using film as the catalyst. BMFI is in the middle of a three-phase, $6 million renovation of the theater that includes further restoration of its lobby, second floor and concession area, as well as HVAC system upgrades, the addition of an elevator, code compliance activities and restoring the grand skylight.

The Anchor Building Program provides grant-to-loan funds to restore strategic buildings in downtown areas. Money is to be used specifically for acquisition costs or physical building improvements. It is a core program used by the state's Community Action Team, a division within DCED that coordinates state funding packages for communities for significant "impact" projects.

Since January 2003, more than 850 projects have been approved through the community revitalization component of Governor Rendell's economic stimulus package, which leverages $2.8 billion in grants, loans, tax credits and guarantees to generate an anticipated $5 billion in private-sector investment.

For more information on Governor Rendell's economic stimulus package and the Community Action Team, visit http://www.newpa.com/, or call 1-866-GO-NEWPA (1-866-466-3972).

CONTACT: Greg Morgan, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, +1-717-783-1132.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

CONTACT: Greg Morgan, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic
Development, +1-717-783-1132

Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/
http://www.newpa.com/

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