Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a recipient of a $67,500 grant for Capital Maintenance and Improvements from the State of Tennessee as administered through the Tennessee State Museum. The grant award will be used for window replacement in the 42-year old Grand Junction Depot, additional electrical upgrades in the coach yard and roof repair to the main office building.
The Tennessee General Assembly made available $5 million in funding from the 2024-2025 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements.”
It was a highly competitive process. In total, the Tennessee State Museum received 157 applications, totaling $10.5M in funding requests for the $5M appropriation. As of this release, the Museum has made full or partial awards to 83 museums across the state, representing 46 counties.
“In our second year facilitating this funding, we continue to be inspired by the incredible work being done throughout the state by our strong network of Tennessee museums and historic sites,” said Ashley Howell, Tennessee State Museum executive director. “This grant is an extension of our mission to preserve of the history, art, and culture of Tennessee by supporting the efforts of local, regional, and state institutions. We again thank the Tennessee General Assembly for their support for Tennessee museums.”
Charles Googe, Education Coordinator and Museum Collection Curator states “we are thrilled at the opportunity provided by the State of Tennessee’s Capital Improvements grant program. Through this award, made possible by the Tennessee General Assembly and facilitated by the Tennessee State Museum, site improvements made to our existing grounds and facilities will enable us to continue providing impactful and educational railroad experiences for our guests, patrons, and supporters across the State of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley.”
The Capital Maintenance and Improvements grant had a minimum request amount of $5,000 and a maximum request amount of $100,000. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2025.