Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program Accepting Applications

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Public museums in Illinois can receive funding assistance to improve museum facilities and develop new exhibits through the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), which administers the program, is accepting applications from qualifying public museums.  The deadline to apply is 5:00 pm on Monday, February 3, 2014.  

“Museums play a vital role in helping students, families, and visitors to Illinois better understand the culture, history, and natural heritage of local communities and of our state,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller. “The Public Museum Capital Grants Program can assist local public museums in meeting their educational missions by upgrading or expanding museum facilities.”

A total of $20 million in funding from the state’s “Illinois Jobs Now!” capital program has been made available for public museum capital grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014.  The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for FY 2014 is $750,000.  Projects will be reviewed solely on the merit of the application as presented; no changes to the funding request will be initiated during the review process. 

The level of local matching funds required for each project is based on the level of attendance at the applicant museum during the preceding calendar year.  Since the program is funded by capital development bonds, only those museums operated by or located upon land owned by a unit of local government are eligible.

In FY 2012, the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program granted $15 million to 49 museums for projects ranging from expanded facilities to exhibits and infrastructure improvements.

For detailed information on the application process, museum eligibility, matching fund requirements, and a copy of the application form, check the web site at this link: http://www.museum.state.il.us/programs/musgrants/.

Copies of the application forms can also be obtained by contacting the Division of Grants, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, email DNR.Grants@Illinois.gov, phone 217/782-7481