Dixon Historic Theatre pursuing $1.5 million grant for building improvements

DIXON – The Dixon Historic Theatre is hoping to win a $1.5 million grant for structural improvements to the century old facility.

It’s a federal Economic Development Administration grant, and funds would go toward a new roof, tuckpointing with the exterior, and other improvements.

[ Dixon Theatre seeks $100,00 from city ]

[ 100th anniversary event for Dixon Theatre called off ]

The city gave the theater $200,000 last year to go toward event programming with the goal of relaunching the theater with a strong opening season.

The city is budgeting another $200,000 for the theater this year, $100,000 of which would go toward events and the other half for the potential grant match.

The total local grant match would be $300,000, and the goal would be to get $100,000 from the Lee County Board and raise the remaining $100,000 itself.

City Manager Danny Langloss said the theater did an incredible job with its reopening season considering COVID-19 restrictions, but only drew about half the audience it had anticipated. Donations to the theater are an investment in the art and culture of the community, he said.

“There was significant loss in revenue from COVID,” Langloss said. “The council really sees the theater as a hub for arts and culture and a way to improve the quality of life for residents.”

They hope to hear back about the grant in the next month or so.