As state legislators battle over the state budget, West Michigan lawmakers hope to see a $30 million request go through to help fund a new aquarium in Grand Rapids.
The legislatively directed spending item sponsored by Senator Winnie Brinks was one of hundreds proposed by legislators.
The Grand Rapids Democrat wrote in the formal request that “the aquarium will be a national level attraction with an approximate total project cost of $450 million, bringing in more than 1 million visitors per year. More than 65% of those visitors will be from outside of Michigan’s borders.”
Brinks expects the state funding would leverage more than $100 million in philanthropic donations over and above state dollars.
She notes a projected $3.4 billion economic impact to the state over ten years, with new state tax dollars and thousands of jobs both ongoing and during construction.
The John Ball Zoo board recently broke a purchase agreement for a potential site along the Grand River near Millennium Park after significant environmental concerns were raised.
Board members say they are considering all funding options and other Kent County sites with plans for the aquarium to be completed by 2031.
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