Construction for a satellite campus of the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Waynesboro hangs in the balance as the General Assembly weighs amendments to capital appropriations for its 2026-2028 biennium budget.
Virginia Del. Ellen McLaughlin (R-Waynesboro) has requested $3.5 million for drawings in fiscal year 2027 and $28.5 million for construction in 2028 in the biennium budget for the Commonwealth.
McLaughlin submitted two separate requests: one that funds the drawings only in 2027 and one that also includes money for construction in 2028.
McLaughlin’s office is hopeful that the funding will come through for the museum as her office has been working on this for several years.
“I’ve been working with Waynesboro and VMNH for a few years now, and I’m really hopeful we can make some progress,” McLaughlin told AFP. “Every day I’m in Richmond, I try to stress the importance of this project and highlight how great it would be for our area. This could really be a huge benefit to not only our community but the entire region.”
This project has been a long time coming for Waynesboro; planning began in 2011 for the proposed 28,000-square-foot, two-story campus. The museum was moving full steam ahead until COVID-19 hit the U.S. and Virginia, and money allocated toward the project was redirected to support the pandemic response in the state.
Despite advocacy efforts since then, construction funding has not been restored in subsequent budget cycles.
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The potential economic impact of the museum on the River City is significant. Estimates are that the museum would bring 45,000 to 85,000 visitors to the city each year.
“This one isn’t going away for me. I’m going to keep pushing for this funding for as long as it takes,” McLaughlin said.
Once funding is approved, the design renderings will be converted to construction drawings. Once construction begins, the museum is expected to take approximately two years to build.
The House appropriations committee will review member amendments one by one and will make recommendations in mid-March or April.
Additional funding requests
McLaughlin also submitted requests for other local projects and organizations as part of the budget amendment process including:
- Area agencies on aging: $10 million in 2027 and 2028
- Child advocacy centers: $5 million in 2027 and 2028
- Residential well water testing and treatment fund: $1 million in 2027 and 2028
- Affordable housing, Waynesboro: $750,000 in 2027
- Blue Ridge Learning Center: $510,000 in 2027
- Frontier Culture Museum security funding: $275,000 in 2028
- Frontier Culture Museum, salary alignment: $474,471 in 2027 and 2028
- Arcadia Project, Staunton: $250,000 in 2027
- The RISE Foundation, Waynesboro: $250,000 in 2027 and 2028
Related stories
- Waynesboro: Natural history museum looks to 2027 to secure state funds for construction
- Waynesboro: Natural history museum delayed; ‘unable to secure’ construction funding
- No federal dollars: Waynesboro expects state to come through with museum funds
- Is Waynesboro still getting its museum? State budget leaves money out
- Construction set to begin in 2025 on Museum of Natural History Waynesboro campus
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Crystal Graham
