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Yellowstone projects could get matching federal money

By MICHAEL BECKER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Five Yellowstone Park Foundation projects - including a new, $26 million Old Faithful visitors center - are eligible for federal assistance under a new National Park Service initiative.


 The Centennial Challenge initiative aims to increase federal funding for national parks partners over the next 10 years. It's part of a larger Park Service initiative to celebrate the agency's upcoming 100th anniversary in 2016.

The Centennial Challenge money, which still needs final approval in Congress, would be used to match private donations for the projects. As much as $100 million could be approved for various projects.

“The Centennial Challenge really excited us because this is the first time I can remember that the government has offered matching funds that would go against the private funds,” said Paul Zambernardi, the foundation's executive director.

The foundation's five recognized programs were among 201 eligible projects announced by the Park Service last week.

“We're proud that our private fundraising activities have been recognized at the national level,” Zambernardi said.

If the bill is approved, the Park Service would choose the projects that fit into the budget for 2008.

Regardless of whether the federal funding comes through, Zambernardi said, the foundation's programs will go on next year. The nonprofit foundation has already raised enough money to cover the projects costs. Any federal money will be used to improve the programs and prevent cost overruns.

The foundation's five approved projects and their projected costs are:

€ Connecting Science to Visitors and Scientists to Parks: Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center, $445,000;

€ Inspiring Future Yellowstone Stewards: A No Child Left Inside Initiative, $325,632;

€ Preserving Yellowstone's Stories for the Future: Cataloging and Conserving the Collections, $320,000;

€ Replacing the Old Faithful Visitor Center, $26.1 million

€ A multi-agency study of hydrothermal microbes in Yellowstone Lake, $1 million.

The Bozeman-based foundation works closely with Yellowstone on improvement projects in the park. Zambernardi said the foundation raises $5 million to $6 million a year.

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