116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Theatre Cedar Rapids awarded state grant to boost fundraising for building renovation
The Community Attraction and Tourism grant will contribute to the theater’s $9.5M fundraising goal
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Theatre Cedar Rapids, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, has been awarded a $500,000 state grant to undertake renovations that will transform the inside and outside of its building in downtown Cedar Rapids.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority announced last week the money is being awarded through the state’s Community Attraction and Tourism program, to the theater’s Dream Here, Do Here capital campaign.
The campaign seeks to raise $9.5 million to renovate the building’s upper stories to accommodate additional classroom and rehearsal space.
According to the theater’s fundraising website, tcrnext100.org, $6.15 million has been raised so far.
Every floor of the 50,000-square foot 1928 Iowa Theatre Building, which has been owned by Theatre Cedar Rapids since the 2008 flood, will see some kind of renovation. Many of the changes will make the building more accessible, including lobby elevator access to all floors. The project also will replace a giant ear of corn sign that hung off the building at the corner of First Avenue and Third Street SE.
According to the state’s announcement, the theater anticipates increasing the number of visitors by 45 percent annually with this project.
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