Fort Worth's National Juneteenth Museum set to receive $3 million

Fort Worth, Texas - The planned National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth is set to get a big boost of up to $3 million. This money is meant for important improvements around the museum's location, and it's coming from the Regional Transportation Council, according to Dallas Metro News.

This council is a part of the North Texas Council of Governments. They make decisions about transportation matters and they really liked this museum idea. In their meeting on June 8, they all agreed to give the money to help the museum.

However, the council's financial support depends on whether the ambitious museum, costing $70 million, gets built.

The National Juneteenth Museum was first announced in 2021 by the city of Fort Worth. The plan is big. The museum itself will take up 50,000 square feet and include lots of different parts:

• An exhibit area that's 10,000 square feet in size
• A 250-seat theater for talks and performances
• Spaces that can be changed around for different exhibits, talks, and events
• Shared workspace for local businesspeople
• A food hall with local chefs
• A National Juneteenth Plaza, courtyard, and green space

The museum is just one part of a bigger plan for the area. The city of Fort Worth, working with Hoque Global, wants to build at least 370 homes and some stores close to the museum.

The city has also set aside more than $1 million for a new park called Evans Plaza Park.

The museum is set to start being built in 2023 and the goal is to have it finished by June 19, 2025. This is according to the museum's official website.

Michael Morris, the head of transportation, talked about how important this museum project is during the June 8 meeting. He said it's a big deal because it's not just about the museum. It's about the city's investment in some of Fort Worth's poorer neighborhoods.