Panida receives SURA grant

SANDPOINT - The Panida Theater, a downtown jewel for many residents, will be sparkling all the brighter thanks to a grant from the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency.

As a means to promote downtown revitalization, SURA awarded a $450,000 grant to the historic theater. Panida managers will receive the funds in $90,000 increments over the next five years. According to Panida executive director Karen Bowers, the grant will serve as a cornerstone for the million dollar "Panida Forever" restoration campaign.

"It's really quite incredible that we were chosen for this grant," she said. "We're just so grateful."

The SURA grant will join the proceeds from Panida's previous fundraising efforts and push the theater significantly closer toward its restoration. In fact, Bowers said that the first phase of work will probably begin just after Independence Day with repairs to the marquee and the face of the building.

"Because SURA's intention is to focus on downtown Sandpoint, we will use the funds this year to completely facelift the Panida and the Little Theater and, in so doing, polish, shine and brighten up the gem that she is," Bowers said. "It's long overdue."

The effort to secure the grant began last fall when the Panida board requested help with their restoration efforts from SURA. Councilman John Reuter helped SURA members approach the proposal, ensuring that all details were in order before awarding the grant.

"SURA realized the Panida is an economic driver for Sandpoint," SURA chairman Eric Paull said, "and once we worked out the details we were happy to participate."

However, Reuter said that the Panida staff have more than SURA to thank - local residents also deserve gratitude.

"The really relevant thing to the success of this theater is community support," he said. "The reality is that hundreds if not thousands of people here have contributed with ticket sales and donations."

Over the next five years, the grant will help fund a comprehensive renovation of both the Panida interior and exterior. Altogether, the theater board hopes to upgrade the projector system with digital technology, upgrade the seats, improve the interior design and commission murals.

"We're confident that the Panida board will be able to use this SURA money to attract other substantial grants," SURA commissioner Marilyn Sabella said. "Ultimately, our Panida will rival the best theaters in the nation."