Art, culture and local parking are poised to get their share of a billion-dollar federal spending package.

Work on a planned parking garage in Auburn’s Great Falls Plaza will receive $250,000, while renovations to the Public Theatre and the Franco-American Heritage Center will receive $97,000 each under an omnibus spending bill passed by the House and Senate Monday.

The bill is awaiting President George W. Bush’s signature.

“Whenever you get a boost like this, it gives the project credibility,” said Public Theatre’s Christopher Schario. “That’s certainly what it does for us. It shows that we have serious and credible renovations happening.”

The theater began a capital campaign earlier this month aimed at raising $2.48 million for renovations. Crews are scheduled to finish the first phase, an expansion along the eastern side of the lobby and seating area, in December.

The second phase will give the lobby a new entrance, box office and concession area. Much of that will be built along the western side of the building. Work on that phase should conclude next fall.

Other work is expected to be finished within three years. Plans call for updates to the stage area, dressing and green rooms, workshop, stage, seating and storage space.

Lewiston Mayor Lionel Guay, chairman of the board of the Franco-American Heritage Center at St. Mary’s, said the money will go toward further renovations there.

“It goes to our finance committee now,” Guay said. “They’ll look at it and decide what’s most pressing and what needs to be done next.”

The center is in the middle of a $4 million renovation aimed at converting the church into a performing arts center.

So far, the center has spent nearly $2 million, fixing the worst of the problems in the granite facade. More money has been spent to complete the first phase of the performing arts center, bringing in theater seats and expanding the stage. More plans for the seating, lighting and sound have been waiting on more donations.

In Auburn, councilors approved $5 million in debt to build a 400-space parking garage in March. City Manager Pat Finnigan said Tuesday the $250,000 in federal money would cut down on the city’s debt.