The State Theatre submitted requests for $1.5 million in federal money to help with the facility's funding -- which so far has come only from the state, local and private level.
John Hook, State Theatre chief executive officer, said the theater is "actively" looking to the federal government for monetary support.
A total of $1.5 million in appropriation requests was submitted to the offices of Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., and Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., within the last month.
The $1.5 million was broken down into three separate requests of $500,000, addressing the facility's planning, construction and renovation, pedestrian walkway and streetscape improvement, and arts education programs.
Peterson's press secretary, Chris Tucker, said hundreds of appropriations requests were received, and there is no guarantee the State Theatre, 128 W. College Ave., will be funded fully or partially by federal money.
Tucker said the first step in the federal budget process is for the House and Senate Budget Committees to agree on a resolution that will give a broad dollar amount of what can be spent. He said that after a budget resolution is set, the House Appropriations Committee can fund part of that broad number.
Tucker said Peterson, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, will make requests for what he thinks should be funded.
Tucker said the State Theatre is part of Peterson's recommendations, but he would not say how much of the $1.5 million he would recommend. "We push for what we push for, and the State Theatre is part of that," Tucker said.
Robert Traynham, communications director for Santorum, said Santorum's office is still compiling a list of appropriation requests that Santorum will support and recommend for funding. He said whether the State Theatre will be included and how much of the $1.5 million will be recommended is unclear at this point and will not be known until the end of April.
Traynham said once Santorum's recommendations are decided, they will be given to the Senate Committee on Appropriations in May or June, and the appropriations process will take place in the fall.
Both houses of Congress undergo the appropriations process; they then agree on a budget that goes to the president.
Specter's office did not return phone calls by press time yesterday.
Hook said the federal budget ideally is set in October, but in recent years, it has been closer to the following spring, meaning any money appropriated will not be received until early 2007.
Hook said he is in constant contact with the officials' offices.
"We are doing everything we can to show them the great benefits this project will bring to the Centre region," Hook said. "I'm not confident at all [about receiving federal funds]. That is why we are asking anybody and everybody who is interested in this project to contact Congressman Peterson, Sen. Santorum and Sen. Specter and say, 'We would really appreciate you guys supporting this project and seeing that the federal budget includes this thing.' "
Since the end of March, Hook said the theater has raised about $125,000, bringing its total to about $4 million out of the $6.2 million needed -- all of which, he said, came from "outstanding" support from local, state and private funding.
