COLUMBUS, Ind. – A crowd of Crump Theatre supporters filled the Columbus City Council chambers Tuesday night as Project Encore leaders made their case for a key piece of funding needed to push their long-planned redevelopment of the century‑old downtown landmark toward construction.

Council members voted 9-0 to approve a Columbus Redevelopment Commission (CRC) grant not to exceed $3 million to the Crump Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA). The TIF-funded grant will help support construction, rehabilitation and repair of the historic Crump Theatre and unlock more than $6 million in previously awarded READI 2.0 funds.

Public investment from the city is required for CCPA to access the READI dollars, which were awarded this summer.

The Encore team first presented its redevelopment vision to the city in February 2026, at a time when organizers were still assembling their board, securing grants, raising private donations and refining cost estimates for restoring the 100-plus-year-old theater. Since then, the group has built a 10‑member board of directors and secured nearly $8.7 million in state grants, $2.5 million in foundation support and more than $6 million in community fundraising, according to CRC documents.

Council President Kent Anderson praised the team’s pace and persistence, comparing the project to “building the car while racing it,” echoing CCPA board president Laura Garrett’s characterization of “building the ship while sailing it.” Anderson said revitalizing the Crump contributes to a strong sense of place, something he described as essential for small Indiana cities competing for talent and economic growth through programs like READI.

A memo from the redevelopment commission stated that its financial consultant and historic theater consultant reviewed CCPA’s pro forma and deemed it satisfactory.

Funds for the grant will come from the city’s Central Allocation Area and will not be released to CCPA until specific conditions are met. Those include final approval of required state grants, confirmation of pledged private donations, and formal adoption of amended nonprofit articles establishing CCPA as a neighborhood development corporation (NDC), a classification required for receiving TIF funds.

The proposal did draw criticism from one resident who questioned the project’s financial sustainability. He argued the city’s support was driven more by nostalgia than sound economics and urged council members to reject the grant.

Under a city ordinance, any redevelopment commission expenditure over $500,000 must receive council approval. The redevelopment commission passed a resolution Sept. 21 authorizing the grant pending council’s vote.

With Tuesday’s approval, Project Encore moves one step closer to bringing new life to one of Columbus’ oldest performing arts venues.