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Historic Port Theater nearing completion; board told a roughly $200,000 funding gap remains
Summary
Chamber and theater board representatives said renovations are nearly finished, with donated seating and new sound and lighting installed; they asked the county and community for help to cover approximately $200,000 in remaining construction costs to finish the facility.
Chamber and Port Theater representatives told commissioners the restoration of the Historic Port Theater is near completion but that a funding gap of roughly $200,000 remains to close out construction and install seating and projection equipment.
Joe Whitmer, Gulf County Chamber president and Port Theater board member, said state and FEMA grants funded much of the project and the community has donated services and equipment; he said inflation and post‑COVID cost increases have left an outstanding construction balance. "We are this close to finishing the project… we are probably about… we owe about $200,000 in construction to go ahead and wrap this thing up," Whitmer said.
Whitmer described a facility outfitted for live events, with LED lighting, a donated PA system and an upgraded technical package; the final step includes installing donated theater seating and a movie projector pending additional funding. He said the board would welcome tours and further community support.
Clarifying details: staff and board representatives said most grant awards are exhausted and that remaining work will require local fundraising or county support; specific line items for the $200,000 were not enumerated at the meeting.
Why it matters: the theater is presented as a multiuse cultural facility that would expand local arts, education and tourism offerings once operations and finishing costs are resolved.
