EVERETT — A federal agency terminated a $250,000 grant to the Imagine Children’s Museum that paid for the expansion of a science program for young children in Snohomish County.
The agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, terminated the grant on April 8, the museum announced Monday. On April 2, the same federal agency terminated a $3.9 million grant to the state that assisted a number of libraries across Snohomish County.
In a letter sent on April 15 to the museum, the Institute of Museum and Library Services said the grant was terminated the week before, but did not give a reason for the grant’s termination.
Federal regulations require agencies like the IMLS to provide termination notices which include the reasons for termination, the effective date and the portion of the award that will be terminated. The letter did not include a reason or how much of the award will be terminated.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The grant, awarded directly to the museum in August 2024, paid for the expansion of the museum’s Little Science Lab. The grant funding allowed the museum to travel to more rural areas of the county and bring science lessons to young children who might not have otherwise had access to them.
“We have committed a lot to this,” Imagine Children’s Museum CEO Elee Wood said in an interview Monday. “To have that taken away just feels disingenuous.”
The museum plans to appeal the decision, Wood said. It had put $250,000 of its own money toward the Little Science Lab as matching funds.
If the grant funding is not restored by June, she said, the museum will have to reduce or discontinue the program’s expansion.
“This kind of funding has an impact on communities and families,” Wood said. “It’s not that big compared to some other programs, but it does make a big difference in terms of helping kids become more confident in science and math.”
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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