Chattooga County officials are reviewing four bids submitted for the next phase of restoration work at the historic Tooga Theater in downtown Summerville.

Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen confirmed to WZQZ News on Thursday that four contractors submitted bids for the project. Allen said his office is currently vetting all four bidders, with an announcement of the bid award expected during the latter part of next week.

The latest development marks another step toward restoring the historic theater, which has been owned by Chattooga County since 2015.

The county purchased the former Dandy Denson Shrine Auditorium, commonly known as the Tooga Theater, during the administration of former Commissioner Jason Winters.

Since that time, the county has pursued funding for restoration work through several administrations.

During former Commissioner Blake Elsberry’s administration, grant funding was secured for improvements to the theater’s exterior, including restoration of the marquee and work on the building’s facade along Commerce Street.

That work represented the first phase of what is expected to be a much larger restoration effort.

More recently, the Appalachian Regional Commission committed $1 million toward restoration of the theater’s interior, providing funding for the next phase of the project.

The long-term goal is to return the historic building to use as a venue for entertainment, performances and community events in downtown Summerville.

With four bids now under review, county officials are moving closer to selecting a contractor for the next phase of work.

Allen told WZQZ News that the county expects to announce the successful bidder late next week.