Renovation Update

DACS applied for grants last winter to both Canadian Heritage and Trenval Business Development Corporation to fund a Feasibility Study and had retained the services of Shoalts & Zaback (Kingston) to conduct the study.

With the change in government in the spring, our applications were put on “hold”. However, in late August, we were advised that both agencies had received funding. We are now delighted to announce that we have received the following federal funding:

Feasibility Study:

• Trenval has awarded a $12K grant (original request for $25K)
• Canadian Heritage has awarded the full grant request of $25K

Stabilization of Naylor’s Theatre:

• Trenval [(as part of their Local Incentives Program (LIP)] has granted $6,300 for work to be done on Naylor’s Theatre in the interim period before renovations commence.

In March 2005 a consultant from Toronto offered to speak to our group. The recommendation was that we apply for funding to pay for a "Needs Assessment" as being the first step towards the goal of applying for government funding from larger programs such as Trillium, etc. and also approaching philanthropists for the arts.

Needs Assessment:

In September 2005, we applied for and received a grant for $5,000 from Trenval Business Development Corporation. We hired the firm of The Sponsorship and Marketing Group (Toronto) and the Needs Assessment was completed in December 2005.

Feasibility Study for Naylor's Theatre:

The primary and immediate recommendation from the Needs Assessment was that DACS hire a firm to produce a "Feasibility Study". A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to five architectural firms from Toronto to Kingston in December 2005.. DACS received three proposals and found them all to be excellent. The Kingston firm of Shoalts & Zaback was the successful candidate.

Canadian Heritage & Trenval Business Development Corporation:

The cost to DACS for the Feasibility Study is $50,000. Grant applications were sent to both Canadian Heritage and Trenval in February 2006, requesting 50% of the total fee or $25,000 each.

Change in Government:

Unfortunately, due to the change in Federal Government, we have been advised by both Canadian Heritage and Trenval, that our applications are on "hold" as neither of these divisions have received funding from the new government.

Summary:

Without the "Feasibility Study" in hand, we are not in a position to move forward with the restoration of Naylor's Theatre and specifically, not able to approach major funding sources for the project.

We continue to work diligently at fundraising efforts and programming but the real source of start-up capital remains elusive.