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New Finger Lakes Museum trying to raise more private funds

Carlet Cleare
/
WXXI

The new Finger Lakes Museum is kicking up its fundraising efforts to raise $1.3 million in private funds necessary to receive matching state funding for it's new facility.

The museum was one of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council's top projects, and was awarded $2.3 million earlier this year. Since the announcement, the president of the board of the museum, John Adamski says financial gifts fell. The grant requires that the private funds for the project be spent first before state funding is released.

Adamski says the hope is to raise as much of the $1.3 million as they can by the end of the year.

"The sooner that we can raise the funds, that makes it easier to continue with the construction project at our Branchport campus," said Adamski. "What we're really trying to avoid is a work slowdown because of the shortage of funds."

Adamski says the board is about 15 to 20 percent closer to its million dollar goal. The Finger Lakes Museum is an initiative creating a research and community center in the former Branchport Elementary School at Keuka Lake State Park, intended to promote the enjoyment, education and stewardship of the Finger Lakes region. The museum will also focus on fresh water conservation.

The Branchport facility is currently undergoing asbestos abatement.