The Helen Haddad Music, Arts & Event Center will be a step closer to reality when leaders of the local professional orchestra break ground on the $2.5 million project during a special ceremony at 4 p.m. April 3 in downtown Columbus.
All but about $100,000 of the effort has been raised, according to Margaret Powers, executive director of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. And that final amount is expected to be met via the current $50,000 matching grant opportunity through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority’s CreatINg Places program.
In fact, Powers said Philharmonic leaders are hopeful the remaining financial gap can be closed in time for the groundbreaking — a public event featuring Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Haddad, and other dignitaries.
The approximate 100-seat center will be constructed at the rear of the Philharmonic office at 315 Franklin St. Currently, that space is currently a conference room that faces toward a parking lot.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
