[Date]
The Honorable[State Representative/Senator Name]
[Office Address of State Representative or Senator]
Find addresses at:
Dear State Representative/Senator [State Representative/Senator Name],
I am a proud resident of the Wyoming Valley; an area with over 300 years of remarkablehistoryand who’s people played a significant role in both the American and Industrial Revolutions. This history is more than just something to be proud of but can also be a source of shared prosperity by building heritage tourism.
The Irem Temple Restoration Project (ITRP), a not-for-profit organization, aims to restore the Irem Temple Building, located in Wilkes-Barre, and repurpose it as an event hall and museum. The building can be saved but without immediate action, it will fall into disrepair in as little as 2-3 years. The timely restoration of the Irem Temple building is an essential step in growing heritage tourism exponentially in the Wyoming Valley.
The ITRP aims to restore the Main Hall of the building to its original configuration. With 6,000 square feet of seat-free, flat, open space, a 491 seat balcony, and a 3,000 square foot stage it will be used for various events and performances such as general admissionconcerts, weddings, and large vendor shows/conventions. It will enable Wilkes-Barre to hosta wide variety of events that cannot be accommodated by any other downtown venue. The potential benefits of this project, including a substantial lift to the local economy, far outweigh any feared competition. In fact, the ITRP sees profitable partnership opportunities with existing downtown stakeholders and feels it will compliment rather than compete with already established venues.
Morenotably, the remaining 18,000 square feet of usable space will be turned into a 21st century digital interactive museum focused on the remarkable history ofWilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley.Our incredible history paired with our proximity to the Northeast Megalopolis makes developing a heritage tourism industry possible. We have an exceptionalopportunity to bring hundreds of millions of dollars into our community annually.
I ardently request your assistance with obtaining the necessary resources to save this building before any further deterioration takes place. Furthermore, beyond supporting just this project, I encourage you and all local politicians to embrace our local history and all efforts to build a strong heritage tourism industry in the Wyoming Valley.
Thank you for your time and efforts to protect and serve Pennsylvania!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zipcode]
[Your E-mail]
[Your Phone Number]