DALTON, Ga. — Dalton officials want to make the site of the Lee Printing building a hub for the arts, culture and entertainment. And on Monday, those plans got a big boost thanks to a $1 million donation from a city resident.

In a work session before a meeting of the City Council, David Aft, president of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia, said Jeanne Burr has donated $1 million to support the arts in Dalton by helping to provide a performance venue. In return, the city was asked to designate the site of the Lee Printing building as a permanent park.

When they met later, council members voted 4-0 to move forward with the project.

“I’m beyond excited,” said Mayor Dennis Mock, who typically votes only in the event of a tie. “This is going to be a big boost for Dalton and a big boost for downtown.”

The donation will provide $300,000 for physical improvements at the site, including the construction of a “first class” performing stage and associated facilities. In addition, it provides for a $500,000 endowment that will distribute some $25,000 a year to support events and performances at the facility. The remaining $200,000 will be held for additional support.

The Downtown Dalton Development Authority (DDDA) will manage the facility, and the city will be responsible for maintaining the property.

The Lee Printing building and property was donated to the city two years ago and the building demolished shortly after. Earlier this year, the City Council gave the go ahead to two separate but interrelated arts and culture projects at the site at 101 S. Hamilton St. One is an interactive sculpture at the corner of the site, which is being spearheaded by the Leadership Dalton-Whitfield Alumni Association and the 1,000 Words Public Project, a community group trying to get more art in public places in Dalton. The other was a plan to use a $20,000 grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation in Chattanooga to install a stage, picnic tables and other amenities at the site.