The Millwald moved a step closer to a new life.
On Tuesday, the Millwald Theatre board of directors announced it had closed on a New Market Tax Credit from Enhanced Capitol and a bridge loan by Skyline National Bank.
The funding allows the board to issue a notice to proceed with construction to Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, contractor Granco, Inc., who placed the low bid for work on the Main Street theatre.
The work will begin to bring to fruition a more than 10-year dream of economic revitalization, of which the theatre is expected to be a cornerstone.
The theatre’s worth to the area was stated in both the Wytheville Comprehensive Plan and the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission’s 2018-22 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.
Once the building is restored, the Millwald, which in its later years as a movie house had been divided into two smaller theaters, will operate as a theatre and a cultural arts and education center.
In addition to live entertainment and film, the Millwald will support education for nearly 700 students in Wythe County.
The theatre is expected to hire seven full-time positions to support daily operations and an additional six or seven part-time workers for special events and performances.
The restored theater will have a 500-seat auditorium – about the same as the Lincoln in Marion and a bit more than The Harvester – and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The facility will be ADA-accessible with lift access to the stage and an elevator access to the lower level.
In addition, construction will include concession stands, a gift shop, four dressing rooms, a green room, classrooms and administrative space.
The contract with Garanco calls for a 360-day construction schedule, meaning the opening of the restored theatre could be as soon as late September 2022.
Other funding for the Millwald comes from public grants, private fundraising and funding from the town, the state and others. The Millwald’s $1.2 million capital campaign is ongoing and is at more than 50 percent of the goal. To contribute to the project, contact Mark Bloomfield at [email protected] or call 276-920-9424.
