State College Borough Council is working out its capital improvements program budget, and it is unclear whether they will provide funding for the renovation of the State Theatre, 128 W. College Ave.

Mike Negra is the president and founder of State Theatre Inc. (STI), a non-profit organization that is attempting to raise the $3 million necessary to complete construction on what would be officially called The Centre County State Theatre. STI is requesting $300,000 from council to fund the project.

Negra told council that, according to a survey conducted by Penn State's Undergraduate Economics Association, the Centre County region would see a $7 million economic impact in terms of new revenue brought in by the theater and other businesses as a result of the renovation. He said that his organization's predictions put that number closer to $10 million.

Teresa Sparacino, director of the downtown improvement district, said the theater would not only bring in new tax revenue for the borough specifically, but it would also make downtown more attractive for professionals to live in.

"We need to make the downtown a place where people want to live in and want to pay top dollar to live in," Sparacino said. "A new theater would do that."

Both she and Negra added that the project would bring in a huge variety of musical, dramatic and performing arts shows that do not normally come to State College.

"Our mission is to take care of performing arts groups that can't go to Eisenhower or Schwab," Negra said.

All the architectural plans are drawn up, plans for the décor have been decided and the initial demolition is done, Negra said. All that is left is to raise the funds.

Council members Tom Daubert and Richard McCarl expressed concern that STI is not doing enough to publicize their fundraising efforts. Many State College residents see this as a bailout by council and are not in favor of it, Daubert said.

Negra said STI has been selling "pavers," bricks that would be engraved with the donor's name, for $150 a piece. The group is also working with state and county officials to raise a substantial portion of the cost, he added.

Negra told council he would be going to other municipalities in the area for funds as well.

If all goes as planned, construction should start by the first few months of next year and take 10 months to finish.