CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Revitalization Corp. (CRC) has received $30,000 in Redevelopment Grant-to-Loan funding from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to assist the Ritz Theater in its transition to digital technology.
This funding will be loaned to the Ritz Theater with all returned funds being devoted to further the CRC’s revitalization efforts throughout the community.
Last year, the film industry announced that it would soon stop production of 35-millimeter film and move instead to digital technology. This costly transition has forced many theaters across the nation to close their doors.
It was then that several members of the Clearfield community stepped up to help raise funds to keep the Ritz open. The “Save the Ritz” committee is headed by Pam Babick of Clearfield.
Babick states, “The committee is so very appreciative of the hard work and time that the CRC has put into this grant-to-loan, making it possible for us to purchase the first projector.
“We are also thankful to the Clearfield community for their support and generosity without whom we would have never raised the matching funds.”
Owner of the Ritz, Bob Knepp remarked, “My appreciation goes out to the Clearfield community, the ‘Save the Ritz’ committee and to the CRC for making this happen.”
The ability to coordinate such programs is just one of the many benefits the Clearfield community receives by maintaining our Main Street program. The CRC is devoted to serving as a resource for all downtown businesses, and all those who are in need of assistance are encouraged to contact the CRC.
CRC Director of Planning and Development, Chris Renaud stated, “We would like to congratulate the Save the Ritz committee and the entire community for its help in saving downtown Clearfield’s historic movie theater. This project has proven just how powerful a group of community-minded citizens can be for the success of Clearfield as a whole.”