The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce's board of directors announced this week that it has endorsed and supports Mid-America Science Museum's expansion proposal.
The board of directors voted unanimously during its monthly meeting on Aug. 21 to endorse the ballot issue following a presentation by Diane LaFollette, the museum's executive director, and Forrest Spicher, market executive for BancorpSouth, and a member of the chamber's executive committee.
"Mid-America Science Museum is a huge part of education in our area and it's vitally important that we invest in their long-term success," board Chairman Mark Curry said in the release.
"Diane LaFollette and Forrest Spicher made a compelling presentation to our chamber board of directors on the future use for the museum. We voted unanimously to support the campaign as it will support education and will bring in visitors to the greater Hot Springs area. It will be a 'win' for everyone," Curry said.
The proposed 7,000-square-foot expansion on the west side of the museum's campus would make the museum the largest venue for science exhibits in Arkansas, according to LaFollette.
Voters within the city of Hot Springs will decide on a $2 million bond issue on Sept. 11 to fund the expansion. Early voting begins Sept. 4.
The bonds would be repaid through a pledge of the existing 3-percent advertising and promotion tax.
The proposed expansion will add 5,000 square feet of exhibit space, and include storage space for the crates traveling exhibits are transported in, as well as a prep kitchen for catering opportunities during professional development workshops and events. This addition would be detached from the existing building, connected only by a covered walkway.
The exhibit hall would have separate temperature and humidity controls allowing for a variety of exhibits containing artifacts that require protection.
In 1971, the Legislature approved Act 515, which established the Arkansas Museum and Cultural Commission. The commission opened temporary headquarters in the Medical Arts Building in 1974.
The museum cost $5 million to build, using bonds the state issued in 1976. The payments on the bonds were made by the state, out of the general fund.
The museum opened on Jan. 20, 1979.
The museum originally operated under the guidance of the state Museum Commission, which was abolished by then-Gov. Bill Clinton, who placed it under the State Parks, Recreation and Travel Department.
The state leased the museum to the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission in March 1981. While under state ownership, the ad commission staffed and operated the museum under an agreement with the Department of Parks and Tourism.
The ad commission assumed ownership of the museum from the state in June 2001.
Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said Tuesday that the ad commission is "excited" at the museum's success in recent years since receiving the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant worth $7.8 million in 2013. The grant was matched by $1.6 million in donations with renovations completed in early 2015.
"We're really excited about how well the museum has done since the Reynolds grant and we think this is just the next best step and we hope everyone will go out and vote 'yes,'" Arrison said. "The bottom line is this is great for the future of our community, for our kids and for tourism, and we're willing to pay for it out of our budget for the next 10 years."
Local on 08/29/2018