Hunting and Fishing Museum still seeking funds

By CHUCK HAYES, Staff Writer

5/31/2007 - Tionesta, Hunting and Fishing Museum of Pennsylvania

Ten months after a groundbreaking ceremony, the Hunting and Fishing Museum of Pennsylvania is still looking for the matching funds needed to get the project off the ground.

Some major potential corporate sponsors of the museum are waiting to see how much regional financial support there is for the museum, according to the museum’s executive director.

At last August’s groundbreaking in Tionesta, officials projected construction of the main museum building would begin this spring and the museum would open in the spring of 2008.

Now the hope is construction of infrastructure can begin this fall and construction of the building will get under way next year.

In 2003, Gov. Ed Rendell awarded $4 million in state funds for the state museum.

But those funds have to be matched locally.

Julia McCray, the museum’s executive director, said on Tuesday that about ten percent of the local match has been raised.

“We have to come up with four million dollars,” said McCray, “but we can use a lot of things as part of the match, such as in-kind services and materials, the donation of property and other grants, but in the end, we still need cash to cover construction and exhibit costs.”

The 22-acre island in the Allegheny River where the museum will be built was donated by Jack Sherman.

McCray said fund-raising has been slow because some major corporate sponsors are waiting to see if there will be significant financial support for the project in the region. Some major sportsman-related companies “are excited about the project,” said McCray, “but they want to see something kick in; they want to see regional investments.”

Individuals and companies in the region, meanwhile, are waiting to be sure the museum will be built before committing donations.

McCray said, “People are skeptical about putting money into something they’re not sure will come to fruition.”

With that in mind, McCray said a new approach to fund-raising on the regional level has been adopted.

“We’ve started to go with a program where people can pledge money but they don’t have to pay until we notify them we’ve reached a goal,” said McCray. “That will give them confidence the money will go into construction and they will not be sitting back waiting for everyone else to kick in.”

Museum representatives are currently talking to firms which may guide the regional fund-raising campaign.

Once the regional campaign produces results, McCray expects some major corporate sponsors will begin making financial commitments to the hunting and fishing museum.

Despite the slow going in terms of fund-raising, McCray said, “The enthusiasm is growing. People have been hearing about the project for ten years, but it’s all been planning. Now they’re starting to see some things happen.”

A boat launch on the island has been renovated and within the next week or so work will begin on a handicapped accessible fishing pier on the island. The pier should be open to the public by the end of June, said McCray.

Museum supporters have also planned a number of events to heighten awareness of the museum effort. A catered barbecue, auction and raffle with entertainment is being planned for June 30 and an outdoors program designed to teach basic archery, hiking, shotgun and animal tracking skills to women is planned for June 23 and 24.

Design of the museum continues to move ahead, said McCray. Final plans for the buildings have been completed and plans for the exhibits are being “tweaked,” she said.

“We’re figuring out how to tell the story” of hunting and fishing in Pennsylvania, she said.

Projections are that the museum will draw 159,000 people a year and generate in excess of $19 million is annual spending.

Anyone interested in more information on the Hunting and Fishing Museum of Pennsylvania may contact McCray, 755-3256 or go to the museum’s website at www.huntfishmuseum.org.