Moses Lake MAC gets $1 million in funding

Grant being put toward new building planned for 2009

MOSES LAKE — Plans for a new home for the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center just got a pretty hefty boost, of $1 million.

The project which would move the MAC from its rented space on the corner of Third Avenue and Beech Street is still in the early stages, but the $1 million in grant funding has manager Terry Mulkey excited for the future move.

"It's still so abstract to me, it's just so exciting," Mulkey said. "I can hardly believe it myself."

The grant is a sizable chunk toward the development of architectural design and construction of a new facility planned near the existing city hall. The MAC project ranked third out of 31 grants awarded in Washington from the state's Heritage Capital Projects Fund.

"It means a considerable boost to the possibility of a new, permanent museum," Mulkey said.

The $1 million is a big chunk of the project, but Mulkey said the MAC and city will have to be looking at a series of other grants and other funding for the building. The total project cost, including land the city currently owns, will be approximately $3.78 million according to estimates.

City Manager Joe Gavinski said increased sales and property tax receipts from continued growth within the city limits should also aid in funding the building. Gavinski has been with the city for more than 25 years, and said this high an award is a rare occurrence for the city. He grave praise to Mulkey for the quality of the grant application.

Plans for city-owned museum building have been in the works for the past several years, following a series of strategic planning sessions, Mulkey said. The new building will slightly more than double the space inside the MAC, from its current 6,000-square-foot facility to one approximately 13,000 square feet in size.

Double the space would allow for the displaying of more exhibits, and Mulkey noted he would like to see other amenities like a theater and cafeteria in the plans. The MAC holds concerts and a drama camp each summer for which he said they would like to use their own space.

A multipurpose room is also in the plans, which City Manager Joe Gavinski said could house future city council chambers. The possibility to house the chambers in the same structure as the MAC is something the city has said would free up some much-needed office space.

Gavinski said the project will be a good one alongside other ones the city is working on.

"It fits in well with some of the things we're talking about," Gavinski said.

The grant funding will come out of the governor's 2007 budget to be passed by the state Legislature. Gavinski said if all goes well, the city council should see a contract for the grant by the end of June 2007, after the Legislature approves the budget.

The exact location of the future facility has not yet been pinpointed, but Mulkey said it will be located on city property near the current city complex. He said an architect and study group will help them determine the location.

Under requirements for the grant, the project must be complete by 2009, the same year the city's lease is up on the current MAC building.

Until then, Mulkey will be busy looking for other grants, and other fund-raising efforts to secure other funding for the project. Mulkey said too that there is additional planning to be done, but he said it seems like a workable situation.

"The fun part's going to be seeing what kinds of plans are developed," Mulkey said.