The State Theatre, 128 W. College Ave., received a state grant that will help with the old cinema's restoration and its conversion into a community theater.

Sen. Jake Corman secured a $40,000 grant that was given to Friedman State Theatre Inc., the group responsible for revamping the theater.

Once the theater is renovated, it will host performances by community dance companies, musical groups and schools. These activities will draw residents downtown and stimulate culture in the area, Corman said.

"I was very proud to lend my assistance to this dedicated group of volunteers, who took it upon themselves to rescue and restore this building that will be a community asset for years to come," he said.

Mike Negra, president of Friedman State Theatre Inc., was grateful for the grant.

"We were ecstatic at the cooperation that we received from Sen. Corman," Negra said.

The grant money will allow the group to receive an accurate cost estimate for the renovation of the theater, he said. Also, much of the money will go to architectural drawings and designs, Negra said.

So far, the cost estimate of the conversion is $3 million, and the organization still has $2.4 million to raise before construction can begin, he said.

Friedman State Theatre Inc. is selling engraved bricks for the sidewalk in front of the theater and holding art shows, such as plays and concerts, to raise funds, Negra said.

While the group still has a lot of money to raise, Negra said, the grant removes some of the pressure on the organization.

Teresa Sparacino, executive director of the Downtown Improvement District, said the money from the grant "provides an important foundation" for the renovation of the theater.

It's important for the community that the project goes through, Sparacino said.

"It's been something that the community has requested for years," she said.

Local dance companies have nowhere to perform except local schools, which have inadequate facilities for such events, Sparacino added.

Friedman State Theatre Inc. is hoping that the renovation of the theater will be complete by the 2004 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts; however, the theater may not open until later that year, Negra said.