Community Seeks Investor to Restore Art Deco Theater

posted by rewarehime on June 1, 2005 at 6:23 am

OWATONNA, MN — A task force associated with Owatonna’s Main Street program is searching for a way to save one of the city’s landmarks. The State Theater in downtown Owatonna is an Art Deco building that opened in 1935 as a movie theater, but has been vacant since 1996. The building is in danger of being lost to deterioration if it is not put back into use soon.

Interested persons with the skills, resources, and passion necessary to “Save the State” are encouraged to contact the task force with their ideas.

Owatonna is a thriving community with a diverse economy, including a strong industrial, financial and service base. Owatonna is home to many internationally renowned firms such as Federated Mutual Insurance Company, Owatonna Tool Company (SPX), Jostens, Viracon, Wenger Company and others. While other rural communities in the Midwest are experiencing decline, Owatonna is experiencing annexations, new businesses and housing, as well as street and airport improvements.

Owatonna’s Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of downtown Owatonna, and has rekindled entrepreneurship, downtown cooperation and civic concern. Main Street’s State Theater Task Force stands ready to assist a motivated investor in obtaining the necessary grants and low-interest financing required to bring “The State” back to life.

Contact Information: Lisa Krampitz, Owatonna Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, 507/451-7970.