Published Thursday, July 1, 1999 Last week, the state approved $25 million in funding for the project. "That $25 million is a big bargaining chip," said Bill Sprague, chairman of the Aviation Foundation, which is spearheading plans for the museum.
The state's approval of the funding -- on a "wish list" of worthy state projects dependent on outside investment -- gives the foundation leverage to conduct a feasibility study and tells it the "state believes in the project."
However, fund-raising efforts are necessary to get the $25 million from the state, Sprague said. The foundation must be able to match the state money to get it, he said.
"We're trying to get in high gear now," he said. "We have a lot of potential private sources."
Though the project is in its early stages, Sprague, who earlier intersaid the project had a 50-50 chance of succeeding, now feels the numbers have changed for the better.
Sprague added that he has started conversations with legislators to get federal funding for the project.
According to Sprague, a market study must be completed before a feasibility study can be conducted. Sprague said the market analysis will be conducted by Penn-Northwest Development Corp., Mercer County's lead economic development agency.
Larry Reichard, director of Penn-Northwest, said a market study is a "basic first look at potential aspects" of the target markets, feasibility and tourist appeal. He said though no particular site has been chosen, that won't affect the initial market analysis.
The analysis will begin within the next couple of weeks, and the target date of completion for the study is Sept. 30, Reichard said.
Sprague said the market study will also project tourist potential for the first three to five years the museum will be open. He said it will also estimate a reasonable admission charge and will help determine the size of the museum itself.
Reichard said Penn-Northwest will continue to assist with the project after the market study by helping to facilitate state funding for the museum.
"It's still in its very early, early stages," he said.
Sprague said the Aviation Foundation tried to build a similar museum in Allegheny County, but the foundation's plans couldn't be carried out.
He said he feels Mercer County is a much better area for this type of a project for several reasons. According to Sprague, there is a great tourist pattern in the area with Prime Outlets, Pymatuning State Park and the Sharon area so close. "There are great looking numbers," he said.
"I live in Allegheny County but I'm really excited about Mercer County," Sprague said.
Sprague said the Aviation Foundation has been working on the project with the Mercer County Tourism and Convention Bureau.
Peggy Mazyck, executive director of the agency, said it wrote a letter of support for capital funds on behalf of the Aviation Foundation.
"We support them and hope to play a pivotal role in itssuccess," she said.
Longer-term plans include selecting a design team around the first of the year, Sprague said.
The team will create a conceptual design and work with the electronic and interactive attractions at the museum, Sprague said.
There are some internationally renown architects looking at the project already, Sprague said, including Ralph Applebaum Associates of New York. Applebaum is the designer responsible for the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., as well as the New York Natural History Museum, he said.
Sprague said if all goes according to plan, ground should be broken in 2001.
"We want the world to come to Mercer County," he said. "This is not going to be just any museum."
