Agriculture Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Grant to Renovate Vogue Theater in Manistee

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced support for the Vogue Theatre in Manistee. This $60,000 grant, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise Grant program, will be used to help fully restore and reopen the historic two-screen theatre.

"Today's announcement is great news for the Vogue Theatre and the City of Manistee," said Stabenow. "This theatre is a historical treasure for moviegoers in Northern Michigan, and fully restoring it will help boost the region's economy by bringing more people downtown to local restaurants, shops and other small businesses."

"With the support of Senator Stabenow and USDA-Rural Development tens of thousands of people young and old, residents and visitors, will make the Vogue Theatre their entertainment destination for generations to come," said Tim Ervin of the Alliance for Economic Success-Manistee and Trustee of the Manistee County Community Foundation. "The reopening of the Vogue Theatre is truly an economic game changer for Manistee County."

The Vogue Theatre, which was built in 1938, reopened to the public last December after being closed since 2005. The Historic Vogue Theatre of Manistee has overseen the restoration.

Stabenow sent a letter of support in January urging USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to consider the Vogue Theatre's grant application to help renovate the historic space and revitalize downtown Manistee. She also visited the theatre last September while it was being renovated. Stabenow is Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, which has jurisdiction over rural development projects.