Construction resumed on the Museum of Broadcast Communications’ unfinished, 62,000-sq. ft. building at 360 N. State, after four years of broken promises and starts and stops on the long-awaited building.
Gov. Pat Quinn personally announced the long overdue $6 million grant to the MBC at its “At Salute to Chicago Television” gala and fund-raiser Friday night at the Chicago Hilton.
“The first installment check is in the bank,” an elated MBC founder/president Bruce DuMont told the 365 guests at the $350-per plate dinner, to thunderous applause.
Last October the Illinois General Assembly approved the appropriation and Quinn signed it into law in November. In February, $500 million in bonds were sold to pay for a capital development fund that includes the MBC project.
The fact that MBC will be a huge tourist attraction and help create new jobs helped drive Springfield’s MBC funding decision. “The Museum of Broadcast Communications can add to our great museums that we have all across Chicago and all across Illinois.”
The MBC estimates its project will create approximately 200 jobs.
The site is appraised at $11.2 million. When completed and leased, it would be worth more than $21.8 million, said DuMont. The new museum is expected to be completed within 10-12 months.
It is one of only three broadcast museums in the country.
