State money needed to rehabilitate Millersburg’s Colonnade Theater into a mixed-use entertainment venue has been approved following a review of such grants by Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration, state Rep. Sue Helm’s office said.
Officials announced in December the former northern Dauphin County movie theater rehabilitation effort was authorized to receive a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.
The next month, Dauphin County announced a match and local theater group Twin Valley Players embarked on raising the rest of up to $2 million it estimated was needed to restore the theater.
But when the state grant was not fully executed by the time Corbett took office in January, it came under review by the Office of the Budget, according to a news release from Helm, R-Dauphin County.
Today, the state has completed its review and approved the funding, according to the news release.
Ultimate plans for the theater, which closed about a decade ago, call for a venue for movies, bands, plays and musicals, as well as for guest speakers, Twin Valley Players previously said.
The prior owner’s family donated the building to the theater group, according to the release.
In addition to providing an arts and entertainment venue, Twin Valley Players said it also had hoped the project would help fuel further business expansion in the borough.
