West Chester Gets $200K Grant For New Arts Center

WEST CHESTER, PA -- West Chester has received a $200,000 grant to help redevelop the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in the borough.

The center is located at the former home of the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory.

"The Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center is quickly becoming a gem of West Chester’s business district," said State Senator Andy Dinniman (D), who helped secure the funding. "This funding is another incentive to promote business development and drive economic growth while increasing opportunities for arts and entertainment – all factors that contribute to our excellent quality of life here in West Chester and Chester County."

The grant comes from the state's Keystone Main Street program, which is a part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED).

The funding announcement was made by State Rep. Carolyn Comitta (D), the recently elected representative and former West Chester mayor.

"This project is the fantastic result of neighbors bringing together a patchwork of community-improvement opportunities, residents and their passions to make something that the entire state has now recognized as an economic driver and sound investment in our region," Comitta said. "I could not be more proud of the project’s champions. Kudos to them."

The theater is run by the Uptown! Entertainment alliance, a local arts and culture nonprofit. The West Chester National Guard Armory building in which the theater is housed was built in 1916 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Image via Rep. Carolyn Comitta's office