Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cultural Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Idaho Museum of Natural History seeks ongoing funds to sustain mobile museum outreach after three‑year grant
Summary
The Idaho Museum of Natural History (Pocatello) told the Joint Finance Committee it received a three‑year $180,000 foundation grant to buy a van and fund two years of part‑time educator support for a mobile outreach program; the museum requested ongoing state support to sustain operations after the grant ends.
The Joint Finance Committee considered a request from the Idaho Museum of Natural History for ongoing general fund support to sustain operational costs of a mobile outreach program that was initiated with a three‑year foundation grant.
Analyst Kevin Campbell said the museum has 8.2 authorized FTE and holds more than 1.5 million artifacts. Director Leif Tapanilla described a David B. Jones Foundation award of $180,000: year one to buy a van and years two and three to fund part‑time outreach staff. The museum expects the mobile unit to travel about 6,000 miles annually with a special focus on rural Idaho school and library visits.
"We applied for foundation grants...and received a 3 year grant worth $180,000," Tapanilla told the committee, and said the museum seeks partial state support to cover ongoing operational costs once the grant term ends. He described the line‑item request as "a partial request for sustainability funds" so the program continues after the foundation funding terminates.
Why it matters: The mobile museum expands access to curated specimens and education programming beyond the museum’s Pocatello campus to rural communities that may otherwise lack science outreach opportunities.
Budget details and program plan - Authorized FTE: 8.2; two vacancies (education specialist and collections manager) were noted and later filled. - Grant support: three‑year, $180,000 David B. Jones Foundation grant (van purchase and two years of part‑time educator funding). - Request: targeted operating funds to sustain the mobile outreach program after the foundation funding expires; the museum estimates approximately 6,000 miles of travel per year to visit rural schools and libraries.
Committee discussion Senator Cook asked whether the grant appears in the budget; staff said the grant is not part of the state’s budget book. Tapanilla said the grant pays for the van and two years of part‑time educator support; the requested state funding would cover continuing operational costs, materials and outreach supplies once the grant ends.
Tapanilla highlighted non‑quantifiable outcomes (education quality and long‑term impact) and noted the museum’s broader roles in artifact stewardship and research. He also mentioned an upcoming loan request: the museum has submitted a request to the Smithsonian for a loan that would include an Idaho bison specimen in a national exhibition.
Ending: The committee heard the presentation and requested standard follow‑up budget review; no vote was taken in this session.
