Hope is alive and well for the Historic Paramount Theatre to receive a state grant, despite being abandoned by the state House of Representatives.

Friday, March 24, 2000

Hope is alive and well for the Historic Paramount Theatre to receive a state grant, despite being abandoned by the state House of Representatives.

That’s because the state Senate passed its version of the Bonding Bill of 2000 Thursday, which includes $500,000 for the Paramount Theatre.

Janet Anderson, president of the Austin Area Commission for the Arts, the non-profit group that owns and operates the Paramount, responded to the news with guarded optimism.

"We’re really excited, but now it goes into conference committee (between the two bodies of government)," she said. "It has to survive that and the governor’s line-item veto."

State Sen. Pat Piper (DFL-Austin) said the state’s commitment to the arts and the uniqueness of the "atmospheric" aspect of the Paramount placed it among projects funded. The Paramount is one of four atmospheric theaters in Minnesota. In Austin, the ceiling, with its tiny stars and the elaborate, castlelike interior of the theater, earn it the designation of "atmospheric."

Riverside Arena didn’t make either the House or Senate version, not a huge surprise to any involved. The city still plans to proceed with renovations to the arena, which are estimated at $1.8 million. Those plans depend, however, on the county’s decision to proceed with the construction of the multipurpose arena at the Mower County Fairgrounds.

Both the city and the county also would have a role to play if the Paramount grant is approved, namely matching whatever amount the state decides to include in its bonding bill.

"If the grant passes, then we would need matching grants from the city and the county and then we could actually finish the project all at once instead of in increments like we’ve been doing for the past 10 years," Anderson said. "We’re keeping our fingers crossed. No matter what happens, we’ll keep working on the theater."

"It’s an unusual year," Piper said. "Our hopes are high, but you never know what the governor will do."

The Blazing Star Trail, which eventually will run from Albert Lea to Austin, also fared well in the bonding bill, with $750,000 earmarked for a bridge needed in Albert Lea for the trail.