Hands on Science Center urges Coffee County support as attendance strains capacity

Austin Cisco, executive director of the Hands on Science Center, told the Coffee County Commission that the nonprofit has seen substantial regional and out-of-state attendance and is approaching capacity for some programs. Cisco said the center welcomed more than 15,000 visitors over the last year from 22 states and six countries and has launched two new programs — a homeschool science program and a preschool science program — that have attracted families from neighboring counties and other states.

Cisco described partnerships with local businesses including Great Lakes Cheese, Nissan and other firms that bring hands-on activities to summer camps, and he said membership in a national museum association provides reciprocal benefits that attract visitors. He said the homeschool program had 95 students in January and March and 125 on April 15, generating roughly 150–200 people in the building during multi-hour events, and that the program is hitting capacity.

Cisco did not present a formal budget request at the meeting but asked commissioners to consider future funding to support physical expansion and new exhibits. When commissioners asked whether expansion would be a physical addition or new exhibits, Cisco said both are planned: the center needs more exhibit space and improvements to keep attracting new visitors. He also noted a prior $88,000 grant from the Tennessee State Museum for an awning but said rising construction costs left work incomplete.

Cisco closed by inviting commissioners to the center’s May 14 ribbon-cutting for a newly acquired exhibit and said he would welcome questions or suggestions on potential partnerships and funding avenues.