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A movie theater in Knoxville is getting help with renovations.

Fridley Theaters is donating the building to the non-profit group working to restore the movie house.

The Grand Theater on Knoxville’s town square closed in 2011 but volunteers want to overhaul the theater — adding a digital projector, new furnace and air conditioner, bathrooms and other upgrades.

Acquiring the building is a major step for the project.

Dylan Morse with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce says the Grand Theater will become more than just a place to enjoy the latest movie

“It will be a first run movie theater and all of that, but it’s going to be a space and a venue for live performances, for speakers and event education and the historic restoration of it of course. It’s a big deal for Knoxville and a big deal for the area going forward,” says Morse.

The budget for the restoration project is $500,000.

Morse says people from Knoxville and all over the country have donated money so far and a Knoxville bank donated $20,000 this week.