Congressman Mike Turner Thursday fought off an attempt by Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake (R-06) to remove his request for funding the Murphy Theatre restoration project.
Congressman Mike Turner Thursday fought off an attempt by Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake (R-06) to remove his request for funding the Murphy Theatre restoration project from H.R. 3288, the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Rep. Flake’s amendment failed in the House Thursday evening by a 105 to 328 vote.Congressman Turner secured this funding at the request of the Murphy Theatre board members and Wilmington city officials. The funding will go towards restoring the historic theatre including replacing the 50-year old boiler heating system, repairing the theatre roof and performing electrical work.
“For over 90 years, the Murphy Theatre has been a cornerstone of the Wilmington community,” Rep. Turner said. “I appreciate the House voting to approve this funding. By working with regional leaders, we were able to identify funding that will go towards the restoration of this community hub.”
The Murphy Theatre continues to be a focal point of Wilmington’s downtown historic district for more than 90 years. It serves as a community center, live theatre and arts center for local residents and hosts 35 events in a typical year, attracting more than 6,000 adults and 4,000 children annually.
“We are certainly very grateful for Congressman Mike Turner’s continued outstanding support to the Wilmington area,” Wilmington Mayor David L. Raizk said. “This latest assistance to the Murphy Theatre – one of our historic treasures, a building central to the business and cultural life of the community – will turn the theatre into a 365-day facility and will enable it to survive in these economically difficult times. We join the Board of the Murphy Theatre in thanking Congressman Turner for his help and pledge to him that ‘the show will go on.’”
Funding for the Murphy Theatre, which is included in the FY 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, passed the House of Representatives late Thursday evening by a vote of 256 to 168.