A full $104,000 is coming to Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts for an LED marquee at the theater entrance on East Main Street (rendering above).
The marquee is estimated to cost $250,000.
Legislator Rob Calarco, who lives in Patchogue Village and serves as the Suffolk County Legislature’s deputy presiding officer, announced the grant award on Thursday.
He also helped secure another $8,335 to install a new pavilion at Medford Memorial Park, all through Phase XIV of the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program, a $600,000 grant program to support growing downtowns around Suffolk County.
“The renovation and reopening of the theater is what kickstarted the revitalization of downtown Patchogue Village,” Calarco said. “The theater itself is really the anchor to it all, so it’s important to reinvest in your anchor and this is going to allow the theater to upgrade to a modern marquee they can use to better communicate what’s going on there.”
The Suffolk County Downtown Citizens Advisory Panel had solicited requests and reviewed applications for funding using a scoring system, according to Calarco.
The two applications that were approved locally were submitted by the Patchogue Theatre For the Performing Arts, and The Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association.
The Legislature then voted to approve the funding using the committe’s recommendations, Calarco explained.
He called $104,000 of $600,000 available a “sizable amount,” but testament to the value of the project in the heart of the village’s downtown.
Calarco’s appointee to the committee is Dennis Smith, the executive director of the Patchogue Village Business Improvement District and special projects coordinator for the village.
“He’s been a great advocate, not just for Patchogue but all of the communities in my district,” Calarco said.
The pavilion in Medford will be used to help stage concert series and other special events in the park, he added.
As for reaching that $250,000 mark, the theater also hosted a big fundraiser event in October that featured legendary Broadway actress Bernadette Peters.
That event raised an additional $10,000 for the theater, said spokesperson Bernie Fabig.
Top: A rendering of the proposed LED marquee, which is estimated to cost $250,000.
