{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aderholt-announces-750000-arc-grant-cullman-community-theater-project", "Aderholt Announces $750,000 ARC Grant for Cullman Community Theater Project", "2026-04-16", "2026", "2026-04", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Robert B. Aderholt", "A000055", "aderholt.house.gov", "aderholt", "https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Cullman, Ala \u2014 Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today announced a $750,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to the City of Cullman to support the renovation of a new community theater in the city\u2019s downtown district.\n\nThe funding will be matched by $750,000 in local investment, bringing the total project cost to $1.5 million.\n\n\u201cThis is a tremendous investment in Cullman and in the future of our local economy,\u201d said Congressman Aderholt. \u201cProjects like this community theater will not only enhance quality of life for residents, but also attract visitors, support small businesses, and continue the strong momentum we\u2019ve seen in downtown Cullman.\u201d\n\nThe project will convert a vacant church, previously home to a congregation that disbanded several years ago, into a 6,050-square-foot Community Theater Center featuring a 200-seat performance hall, stage, dressing rooms, and event space.\n\nCullman has seen a surge in tourism in recent years, with more than 800,000 visitors traveling to the downtown district in the past year\u2014a 200 percent increase in foot traffic. The new theater is expected to further boost economic activity and support the 35 nearby businesses in the area.\n\nCullman Mayor Woody Jacobs expressed appreciation for the federal, state, and local partnership behind the project. \u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Congressman Robert Aderholt, his team, and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell for their support in securing this ARC grant. This investment allows us to preserve an important historic space while expanding opportunities for the arts in Cullman. It represents a meaningful step forward in enhancing quality of life and building on the momentum we\u2019re seeing across our community.\u201d\n\nNathan Anderson, Executive Director of Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism, emphasized the broader community impact. \u201cThis investment opens the door to something special for our community\u2014providing a dedicated home for our community band, theatre, and choir while allowing us to expand programming alongside our festivals. It creates a stage to showcase some of Cullman\u2019s greatest talent. It also supports year-round experiences that enhance quality of life for our residents and draw visitors from across the region. We are incredibly grateful to all who helped make this possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cI appreciate ARC\u2019s continued commitment to strengthening economic development in North Alabama,\u201d Aderholt added. \u201cThis project is a great example of how strategic investments can transform communities and create lasting opportunities.\u201d\n\nThe Appalachian Regional Commission is a federal-state partnership that works to drive economic growth and improve quality of life across Appalachia.\n\nFor more information on the ARC and its programs, visit www.arc.gov.", 1, "2026-06-27T06:16:17Z", "2026-06-27T06:17:30Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aderholt-announces-750000-arc-grant-cullman-community-theater-project"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5355630312114954, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}