Children’s Museum receives matching grant to replace HVAC equipment

The Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum has been awarded a $5,216 matching grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs through its Capital Grant Program for the replacement of two main heating and cooling units.

The units, which are both very old, have been malfunctioning more and more as they age. As of right now, the museum can rely on one only for heating, and the other only for cooling. The museum has been fund-raising for the past year and has raised $1,800 so far. That amount was recently bolstered by a $300 grant from the Greater Ishpeming Area Community Fund.

According to Museum Director Nheena Weyer Ittner, they hope to raise the remaining $3000 soon to allow for the new units to be installed this Spring.

“Right now, if either unit loses its last leg, we would be without heating or cooling, and both could be devastating to our mission of serving area children and families,” she said.

Anyone interested in helping the Children’s Museum reach its matching requirement for this MCACA Grant should contact Nheena Weyer Ittner at (906) 226-3911 x102 or via email at nittner24@gmail.com.