BRIEF: Group breaks ground for Gibson theater

Sep 29, 2008 (The Charlotte Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ABTN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Destination Cleveland County today broke ground for the Don Gibson Theater in the former State Theatre on South Washington Street in Shelby.

The new 440-seat venue, scheduled for completion in August 2009, is named for Shelby native singer/songwriter Don Gibson, who died in 2003.

A Grand Ole Opry star and member of Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame , Gibson wrote such classics as "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Oh, Lonesome Me," and "Sweet Dreams."

The renovated 1939 art deco theater will have state-of-the-art technical equipment and be the site for a regional performing arts center.

Leaders announced the participation of five local banks in the financing of the construction: Alliance Bank and Trust, Fidelity Bank, FifthThird Bank, First National Bank and Mountain First Bank.

The city of Shelby has issued a lease agreement with the nonprofit Destination Cleveland County for the theater and approved a $500,000 challenge grant for the renovation. The N.C. Rural Center approved a $400,000 economic development grant for the project which is part of the local Rhythm and Roots campaign.

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