Gov. Quinn announces $6 million capital grant for Museum of Broadcast Communications

[June 15, 2010]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Pat Quinn has announced a $6 million capital grant to the Museum of Broadcast Communications to assist with the completion of its new facility at 360 N. State St. in Chicago. As one of only three museums in the nation that are dedicated to the history of broadcasting, completion of this project will help further enhance Illinois' successful tourism industry. The museum anticipates that the project will create approximately 200 jobs.

"The tourism industry employs more than 300,000 people and contributes approximately $30 billion to the Illinois economy each year," Quinn said. "Our investments in key cultural attractions like the state-of-the-art Museum of Broadcast Communications help ensure this industry can continue to create jobs and serve as a dynamic growth engine for our state."

The 62,000-square-foot facility will be located at State and Kinzie streets, right next door to Harry Caray's Restaurant and the House of Blues Hotel. The museum will be a model of energy-efficiency and will provide five times as much space as its former location in the Chicago Cultural Center, which closed in December 2003. The new facility will allow the museum to serve a wide range of audiences, expand its collections, and increase exhibit and programming space.

"The Museum of Broadcast Communications is grateful that Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly have recognized and honored the significant role Chicago has played in American radio and television history with this grant," said Bruce Dumont, president and CEO of MBC. "We will commence construction on our new home at State and Kinzie this coming Monday, creating over 200 jobs for the next year."

Tourism continues to be a key driver of the Illinois economy. According to the U.S. Travel Association, in 2008, the last year available, the economic impact of tourism increased by more than $883 million to a record-setting $30.8 billion. Illinois hosted nearly 88 million domestic visitors and over 1.4 million overseas visitors. In addition, the travel industry generated 303,500 jobs for Illinois in 2008.

The project is funded through Illinois Jobs Now, a $31 billion capital plan that will revive the state's ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over the next six years.

MBC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to collect, preserve and present historic and contemporary radio and television content. Besides being one of only three American museums dedicated to broadcast history, it is home to America's only National Radio Hall of Fame.

[Text from Illinois Government News Network]