GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA – EPIC Discovery Center was recently awarded $864,000 in grants for the development of the all-ages children’s museum. The grants were awarded by the Sherwood Foundation for $500,000, Chief Foundation for $300,000, and a combined total of $64,000 from other local funders and foundations. These grant awards, along with private pledges and donations, will be matched by the $5 million grant provided through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act.
The goal of this capital campaign is to develop an all-ages, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math)-based children’s museum in the old armory building within Ryder Park. EPIC Discovery Center will provide more than 15,000 square feet of exhibits and programming for children, tweens, and teens that are singular to Grand Island and the surrounding areas. The project will be completed in partnership with JREMco for project management, CMBA for architecture, Chief Construction for general contracting, and Blue Rhino Design for exhibit and programming design. EPIC is also partnering with the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation to manage the capital campaign.
“We are extremely grateful for the support EPIC Discovery Center has been receiving from the community,” EPIC Discovery Center Executive Director Alison Larson said. “It’s rare to have an opportunity to be a part of a project like this and we’re humbled that so many people understand and want to help make this happen for Grand Island. This is truly a chance to be a part of something epic for the youth in our community.”
These grant awards, pledges and donations total more than $3.1 million; which is 63% of its initial goal. EPIC has an initial goal to raise $5 million in 2024 to match the NE DED Shovel-Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Act matching grant. The total of $10 million will go directly toward the development of the children’s museum that includes general construction, programming, and exhibits. The total project is $13 million that includes a $2 million endowment.
“While we have until the end of December to reach the first goal, we’d like to achieve that by the end of October so we can begin construction,” Larson said. “The sooner we reach those goals, the sooner we can start offering programming.”
Donations and pledges to go towards the effort of bringing a children’s museum to Grand Island can be made through the EPIC Discovery Center website or by calling 308-392-3457. For more information visit www.epicdiscovery.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/epicdiscoverycenter.
EPIC Discovery Center is an emerging STEAM-based children’s museum that will provide exhibits and programming for youth and children of all ages. EPIC Discovery Center will develop the old armory building on Old Potash Highway within Ryder Park. This location was selected due to its centralized location, ease of accessibility by the community, and the adjacency to Ryder Park which is an activity hub for the Grand Island community. The mission of EPIC Discovery Center is to engage families to explore creativity and community through experience-based learning and play.
