It's $20,000 down for an economic feasibility study, $20 million to go before the Pahrump Performing and Visual Arts Center becomes a reality.

The Nye County Commission Tuesday gave the Pahrump Arts Council permission to hire AMS Planning and Research Corp, to conduct the feasibility study of the center. AMS, based in Fairfield, Conn., will be paid up to $20,000.

The approval came as soon as Manon Rodriguez and Patricia Cox, representing the Pahrump Arts Council and the Rotary Club of Pahrump Valley, sat at the table to address county commissioners.

The scope of work includes reviewing previous planning efforts in Pahrump. Consultants will conduct two days of interviews with 20 to 30 key individuals representing the arts, business community, educational institutions, tourist industry and local government.

The company will conduct a market analysis to determine potential participation in the performing arts and cultural activities in Pahrump, using population figures and arts audiences.

A preliminary building program will be recommended, with square footage for various uses. AMS will make recommendations on the governing board, possible activities that could be scheduled over a given year, the needed staffing levels, revenues and expenses.

One consultant has already estimated the center's annual operating budget could run from $500,000 to $750,000, of which $375,000 could be recovered from ticket sales.

The Pahrump Arts Council and Rotary Club was granted a five-year lease by county commissioners last May to develop a 3.27-acre piece of the Calvada Eye for the cultural center. Plans call for an indoor theater, classrooms for art students, a lobby, an exhibit area and an outdoor amphitheater.

John Shelton, principal consultant from the firm Impresario Management in Reno, outlined several advantages the project has going for it during a presentation to project supporters at the Mountain Falls Golf Club last October:

It's extremely positive that PAC teamed up with the Rotary Club to form a solid coalition.

Pahrump has exhibited phenomenal growth of 4 to 6 percent yearly, with almost 40,000 residents that could grow to 65,000 people in 10 years.

The cultural arts center could draw support from Las Vegans, since Pahrump has become a bedroom community of that city.

A study is needed of demographics of Pahrump retirees, snowbirds and Las Vegas commuters.

Survey results from last summer indicate a strong sense of community support, though with 238 of the 548 respondents 18 years old or less, they may be less informed about the hurdles of fundraising, tax initiatives and maintenance costs.

Shelton was correct on one assumption so far: There are only a few naysayers among county officials or leaders in the Pahrump arts community.

Proponents of the project adopted a suggestion to visit Fallon, where the Churchill Arts Council renovated a historic school house for a cultural center and raised millions of dollars over 10 to 15 years to finance a similar facility being proposed in Pahrump.

Shelton suggested setting up an endowment to raise funds, but noted the principal can't be touched for operational expenses. He suggested the arts council tap into government sources including federal agencies, the Nevada Legislature and state agencies as well as private foundations.

Sheldon indicates tax initiatives could even be necessary, like general obligation or revenue bonds and tax increment financing.

He states in his report: "Formal feasibility efforts should be able to surmise if the population base of Pahrump is capable of generating individual donations to the extent necessary to fund a physical structure. However Pahrump should be prepared for the possibility that private donations may not be sufficient to fund the entire construction.

"It is generally understood by most communities that local tax initiatives are frequently necessary to confirm public interest and generate the funds necessary to establish a base foundation."