The Donalsonville-Seminole County Chamber of Commerce has proudly announced the awarding of a $128,500 Historic Preservation grant to support the restoration of the Historic Olive Theatre, located on Woolfork Avenue in Downtown Donalsonville. The grant, secured through the efforts of Chamber President Kadie Matthews and made possible in partnership with the Development Authority of Seminole County & Donalsonville and the City of Donalsonville, will fund critical repairs to the beloved local landmark. The funding is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the National Park Service, as part of a program dedicated to preserving historic properties impacted by Hurricane Michael.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael devastated much of this small-town community, leaving a lasting impact on countless homes and landmarks — including the Historic Olive Theatre. The theatre sustained significant damage during the storm, and its roof has remained in disrepair ever since, leading to unsafe levels of moisture and mold inside the building. Additionally, the theatre’s air conditioning units have been nonfunctional since the hurricane. The last event held at the Olive Theatre was in early 2019, after which the deteriorating air quality rendered the space unsafe for public use. Since then, the building has been vacant, continuing to decline internally due to water intrusion and environmental damage.
The Historic Preservation Grant will fund essential repairs to the Olive Theatre, including a complete roof replacement, mold remediation, and the installation of a new air conditioning system. This long-awaited project has been in development since 2023, and we are thrilled to finally share the news with the community. A formal request for proposals (RFP) will be issued in the coming weeks, inviting qualified contractors to bid on the project. Once the bidding process is complete and contractors have been selected, restoration work on the Historic Olive Theatre will officially begin. All work will be carried out in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation, ensuring the historical integrity of the building is preserved throughout the process.
The Historic Olive Theatre Restoration Project is to be financed with assistance from the Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, U. S. DCA of Interior, through the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia DCA of Community Affairs. This program receives Federal financial assistance for identification and protection of historic properties.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability in its federally-assisted programs.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to: Office for Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20240.
Last modified: October 1, 2025
