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Local arts nonprofit SRO seeks city help to secure former church property for theater and cultural programming
Summary
Steve Harshfield of SRO asked the council to help secure control of a former Lutheran church property so the nonprofit can access grants and convert the site into a performance and arts space; SRO reported submitting an outside agency funding application and described recent programming successes.
Steve Harshfield, president of SRO, returned to the Yelm City Council Sept. 2 to outline continued efforts to acquire and rehabilitate a former Lutheran church property for arts, theater and cultural programming and asked for council assistance in securing the property so the nonprofit can qualify for capital grants.
Harshfield said SRO came close last year to securing funding for the property and that many grant programs require that an applicant control or own the site before awarding capital dollars. He described the building as a near‑turnkey space for theater and events and proposed splitting the parcel or arranging a donation so the city could retain a front portion as a public gathering space while SRO would occupy the back portion.
SRO reported recent program activity including a summer youth play program with about 40 participants, two presentations of a “Forgotten Yelms” program and plans for a haunted house and Christmas programming. Harshfield said SRO submitted an application to an outside agency seeking $12,000 to support arts activities and that SRO continues to pursue other funding and partnerships with local nonprofits, the county and regional partners.
Council members asked whether lease control would be sufficient for grants; Harshfield said it can be but that SRO faced legal and underwriting hurdles, including cosigner concerns when loans were previously in play. Councilmembers thanked SRO for ongoing programming and encouraged continued pursuit of partnerships and funding. No formal council funding decision was made at the study session.
