Naper Settlement is one of 47 museums across Illinois that received funding from the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program. The $629,200 in funds will provide the needed capital to allow Naper Settlement to implement its design plans to replace the aging electrical infrastructure, which is 30 to 40 years old, on the 12-acre museum campus.
Governor Pat Quinn announced Saturday that 47 Illinois museums that attract 16.5 million visitors annually will receive $20 million in state capital investments to improve their facilities and develop new exhibits. The investments are through Governor Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! construction program, and are part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.
“Museums play a vital role in telling us about our world and who we are, where we’ve been and where we’re going,” Governor Quinn said in the news release. “These investments will help museums attract even more visitors, boost tourism, create hundreds of jobs and help preserve our history for generations to come.”
Naper Settlement President and CEO Mike Krol said, “We are grateful for the governor’s continued support of Illinois museums. The funds will allow us to move forward with our future plans to serve more visitors and to be an even greater economic draw for our community.”
The projects are part of the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program was open to any museum operated by local governments or located on municipally-owned land. The maximum grant award was $750,000. Two years ago, the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program awarded $15 million to 49 museums for projects ranging from expanded facilities to exhibits and infrastructure improvements.
“Museums, like other natural and cultural facilities, improve local economies throughout the state,” DNR Director Marc Miller said. “These places can become the backbone of a strong social structure within our communities and I applaud Governor Quinn for recognizing the importance of investing in museums so they can be enjoyed and educate current and future generations.”
The museum grants are part of Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest construction programs in the nation.
About Naper Settlement
History comes to play at Naper Settlement, an outdoor history museum, located in downtown Naperville at 523 S. Webster St. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Naper Settlement has 30 historic structures ranging from a rustic log cabin to an elegant Victorian mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open year round, find more information about hours and admission prices at www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.
