Issue: Funding requested by the Cultural District and the City of Bloomington for the Cultural District's Regional Creativity Center for the Arts OVTF Position: The OVTF endorses the proposal by the City of Bloomington Cultural District to support the continued construction and development of the district. Request directed to: Federal government - $500,000 Background: The "Creativity Center" will be the first public arts resource center of its kind in downstate Illinois. The formerly underutilized building will welcome a projected 5,400 students each month. The facility's location, next to the new performing arts center, will also enable arts organizations to integrate office, teaching, rehearsal and performance spaces supporting their growth. Its location downtown also provides a resource to at-risk children in Bloomington's core neighborhoods who will be welcomed at after-school programs. Project benefits: 230,000+ projected annual visitors, boosting tourism and downtown business development Adds new “quality of life” feature to Bloomington-Normal, increasing economic competitiveness of metro area $7 million in local construction jobs created during renovations New programs and facilities for area K-12 schools and after-school youth arts programs providing opportunities to city core neighborhoods Supports the growth of 30+ area arts organizations, involving over 1,000 young people each year
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