By Patrick Adrian
Staff Writer
NEWPORT — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu visited the Newport Opera House on Friday to recognize the success of local, state, and federal partners to finance the historic building’s ongoing restoration project, which has received more than $500,000 in funding to date in Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs) and investor tax credit incentives.
Sununu scheduled his Newport visit as part of New Hampshire Community Development Week, which ran from Monday, April 5, through Friday, April 9, to applaud the collaboration of local officials, private businesses, and state agencies like the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) to secure federal funding resources to support vital revitalization projects in local communities.
“This is a symbol of all the other things that we haven’t highlighted but have been happening across this state,” Sununu said in a speech to local officials and stakeholders. “With all the different partnerships and everyone working together, this is a model project.”
The Newport Opera House has so far utilized $430,730 in block grants provided through the CDFA to complete a number of upgrades and renovations to the building’s infrastructure. The completed projects so far include a new flooring in the theatre, stage restoration, expansion to storage areas, an upgraded bar and concessions area, new roofing and restoration of the clock tower.
“The building is on its way back and is going to be around for another 150 years,” said Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg.
Numerous officials took time to praise the CDFA, who from 2003 to present has dispersed more than $160 million in federally funded block grants to communities across New Hampshire, according to John Manning, CEO of Southwestern Community Services, the community assistance program that serves Newport and other communities in Sullivan County.
“That [funding] has an impact, whether it’s in downtown Newport, Littleton, or Manchester,” Manning said. “My agency, [for example], has spent over $15 million in CDBG funding over the years on everything from housing projects, Head Start centers, improvements to local housing to rehabs and shelters. These are dollars that are really important to communities.”
In addition to CDBG funds, the Newport Opera House has $181,000 in investor tax credits, another program administered by the CDFA. Under this tax-incentive program, private investors are incentivized with federal tax credits in exchange for their donations to the approved organization.
The Newport Opera House has so far sold approximately $120,000 of its allotted tax credits, according to Christopher Jacobs, president of the Newport Opera House Association.
With the funds raised through the tax-credit program, The Newport Opera House plans to make major upgrades to its lighting and sound systems, which will greatly expand the diversity of productions booked by the Newport Opera House, including musical performances, Jacobs said.
The Newport Opera House also aims to purchase a digital projector and screen to allow options to host film.
These improvements, Jacobs explained, will also support the Newport Opera House’s goal to support educational opportunities for youth by hosting theatre programs or school productions.
“We want to have a place where they can come and utilize this beautiful stage,” Jacobs said.
To learn more about the Newport Opera House, including the tax credit program and other ways to donate, visit their website at newportoperahouse.com.
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