Owensboro forms partnership with state
OWENSBORO, Ky. (April 1, 2015) — The International Bluegrass Music Center project will get $5 million to begin construction on Owensboro’s Riverfront.
Owensboro had been responsible for providing city matching funds for a federal allocation supporting the Riverfront. Instead, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will invest available state matching funds for a portion of the city’s responsibility for that federal allocation. That move allows Owensboro to invest those millions in city funds in the music center, completing the funding for the $15 million project.
“This partnership is really about the most efficient use of available money for the greatest impact for the community,” said Gov. Beshear. “The state has played a big role in the Riverfront, from donating a former state office building to assisting with design and construction to supporting the resulting downtown development.”
The music center will be built on the site of the old state office building, which was demolished this past year as part of the Riverfront rehabilitation. The site is in the heart of the city’s waterfront park on the Ohio River, next to two new hotels and the new convention center.
Plans for the new music center include doubling the square footage of the current facility, with a 500-seat concert hall, a 2,000-seat outdoor concert area, a research library, teaching rooms, and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the river.
Construction is expected to begin on the International Bluegrass Music Center in this year, with completion targeted for 2017.
Add Comment