A bill in the Nebraska Legislature would put $8 million toward a new Great Plains Black History Museum in Omaha.
Senator Rick Kolowski introduced the legislation. Museum president and chairman Jim Beatty calls the legislation a “significant initiative.”
"Our project, based on our analysis, that we could generate as many as 19,000 people from out of the state coming in to the facility annually, and that has a significant economic impact on tourism, and this is also part of the growing trend of cultural and heritage tourism."
Beatty says a new museum would be an educational resource, with hands-on experiences for students. He says it could also be a boost for all museums in Nebraska.
The bill is awaiting a hearing in the Unicameral’s Appropriations Committee.