The Grand Oshkosh announced a $1 million investment from Verve, a Credit Union, which will double the theater’s lounge. 

The contribution represents the largest gift received in The Grand’s history and is part of the ongoing Our Grand Moment campaign to expand and reimagine the facility.

“At Verve, we believe in people helping people—and that means investing in the places that bring our community together,” said Kevin Ralofsky, president and CEO of Verve. “The Grand is one of those places. We’re honored to support its next chapter through The Verve Lounge—a welcoming, flexible space that will create new opportunities for connection, help local artists thrive, draw more people downtown, and strengthen the cultural and economic heartbeat of Oshkosh.”

The Verve Lounge will continue serving audiences of shows in the auditorium, while also serving as a flexible second venue offering a new slate of programming. The Verve Lounge is expected to host more than 150 events each year, including comedy, cabaret, live music, open mic nights, student workshops, and daytime meetings for local businesses.

“The Verve Lounge will allow us to engage a broader range of patrons—especially younger audiences—and further diversify our programming and revenue model,” said Joseph Ferlo, president and CEO of The Grand Oshkosh. “The Grand is more than a theatre—it’s a gathering place, the centerpiece of a vibrant downtown, and a keeper of local history. This exciting partnership with Verve, a Credit Union empowers us to realize our vision to expand access and beautifully demonstrates how history and innovation can coexist at The Grand.”

The gift from Verve, a Credit Union represents the seventh and largest gift secured to-date for The Grand Oshkosh’s efforts. Learn more about the campaign here.

This article was originally posted on Insight on Business.