From staff reports
The Colonel Drake Cultural Alliance has received a $675,000 grant for renovations at the old Lyric Theatre building in downtown Oil City.
Joe Boland, president of the alliance, said the money was rewarded through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
Earlier this year, the Colonel Drake Alliance hired a professional consulting firm, Delta Development Group of Camp Hill, to fine tune and jump start the funding program. And Boland said the grant will serve as the anchor of this new effort.
The alliance and Community Playhouse have completed more than $200,000 of construction along with hundreds of hours of volunteer time in their 20-year effort to save the last existing example of a “vaudeville theater” in the oil region.
“The renovation of the Lyric Theatre is affordable, viable, and will serve as a cultural and economic catalyst for downtown Oil City,” he added. “Our construction and business plans are all in place, ready for a potential opening in spring 2023.”
Contributions are welcome and needed to offset expenses moving forward, Boland added.
More information about the renovations or how to contribute is available by calling (855) 245-1511.
