TCC approves Grant Resolution to continue Night at the Ritz series

The Toccoa City Commission recently approved a grant resolution through the Georgia Council for the Arts.

According to City Manager Billy Morse, the grant resolution, if awarded, would help fund season seven of the Night at the Ritz event series at the Historic Ritz Theatre.

“The Georgia Council for the Arts does have grant funding available. Funding would be applied to continue to the Night at the Ritz event series. This would be season seven of that series. The total project cost is estimated at $16,000. The grant would provide $8,000 and the city would match it with $8,000 to continue that Night at the Ritz series,” Morse said.

Commissioner Terry Carter says the Ritz Theatre is shaping up to be an anchor in downtown Toccoa.

“I would like to point out the number of events at the Ritz Theatre last year. I think it was like 142 events at the Ritz that brought in close to 29,000 people. I appreciate all the hard work that went into that. The Ritz is truly becoming what we hoped it would be as an anchor in downtown. We’re grateful to see that,” Carter said.

Commissioner Evan Hellenga added to Carter’s comments that the Theatre not only attracts local residents it also brings in visitors from out of town.

Toccoa Director of Community Development Connie Tabor pointed out that there were a lot of visitors at the meeting who are volunteers through Friends of the Ritz.

Mayor David Austin thanked the volunteers and explained that the Ritz Theatre relies on volunteers.

Carter made a motion approving the resolution with Hellenga seconding the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.