Chattooga County is moving forward with a new round of bidding for the first phase of renovations to the historic Tooga Theatre in downtown Summerville, with contractors invited to a pre-bid meeting Thursday morning.

The county re-advertised the Tooga Theatre Phase 1 Renovation Project on September 24. The new deadline for sealed bids is 5 PM Friday, October 23, with bids scheduled to be publicly opened and read aloud at the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office at 10 AM Tuesday, October 27.

A pre-bid conference will be held tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, at 10 AM at the Tooga Theatre, 10107 Commerce Street. Attendance is strongly encouraged, and a site visit will immediately follow the meeting.

The county previously received interest from two contractors during the earlier bidding process, but both requested additional time. The project is now being re-bid with the later October deadline.

Phase One calls for extensive work at the theatre, including demolition, interior renovations, work to the rear portion of the building, improvements to the ticket booth and front entrance, along with audio-visual and information-technology equipment, furnishings, fixtures and other improvements.

The project is being supported through an Appalachian Regional Commission grant, identified as ARC Project GA 22084, with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs serving as the basic agency.

The Tooga Theatre project received $1 million in ARC funding for Phase One, part of an approximately $1.372 million project aimed at restoring the historic downtown Summerville theatre.

Thursday’s meeting will give interested contractors another opportunity to examine the project and the theatre before preparing bids.

WZQZ News will continue following the project and will report on the bids when they are opened in October.