Packard plans fund-raising efforts

The federal money can't be used for endowment or operations.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The federally funded $1 million expansion of the National Packard Museum will be accompanied by an endowment fund-raising campaign to operate the growing museum.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, was instrumental in securing the money to allow the museum to grow so it can display more historical vehicles.
"We're going to have more room to display the cars in an historic context," said Atty. Charles Ohlin, president of the nonprofit museum's 15-member board of directors.
"The endowment is what will ensure that we will know where the money's coming from to support the expanded size," said Mary Ann Porinchak, the museum's executive director.
Where funds came from
The museum's expansion money is part of $3.95 million Ryan obtained for Warren projects. Also included in the total are $2 million to renovate the adjacent W.D. Packard Music Hall and $950,000 for expansion and improvement of the city's Riverwalk in Perkins Park.
These endeavors are among some 6,000 local projects contained in a $286.4 billion federal highway bill President Bush signed in August.
With the help of John Marino, the museum is developing a long-term strategic plan. Marino is an associate professor in the School of Technology at Kent State University Trumbull Campus, where he teaches management and marketing courses; and is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians.
The fund-raising campaign will start early next year after the museum's board adopts the plan, Ohlin said.
The federal money will pay for construction, but it can't be used for endowment or operations, Ohlin said.
The endowment campaign would seek to raise $800,000 from local sources and Packard car collectors and enthusiasts worldwide to boost the museum's endowment from $200,000 to $1 million or more by the time the addition opens, Porinchak said.
Interest earnings on the increased endowment would subsidize museum operations, Ohlin said.
The addition
Construction money would become available in June or July, and building the addition would take about a year, Porinchak said.
The one-story, 9,600-square-foot addition on the northwest end of the museum would more than double the museum's 7,500 square feet. The 80-by-120-foot addition would include a new entrance at the building's north end, nearer to visitor parking, and a climate-controlled archiving vault.
The expansion will allow the museum to display about 40 vehicles, compared to 13 to 17 now, Porinchak said.
The museum, at 1899 Mahoning Ave. N.W., opened July 4, 1999, in conjunction with the centennial of the first Packard car.
It occupies what used to be the bathhouse of the former Packard Park pool.
The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the Packard family and of the Packard Motor Car Co., which made its last car in 1958, and Packard Electric (now Delphi Packard Electric Systems).
The strategic plan may call for broadening the museum's scope to include such subjects as the development of the national highway system, in which the Packard family played a key role, Porinchak said.
The history of auto-oriented suburban development is another potential museum topic, Ohlin said.
With a $183,000 annual operating budget and only one part-time staff member to assist Porinchak, the museum relies heavily on its 146 volunteers. In 2004, museum visitors came from 47 states and 17 nations.
Museum income
Museum income is derived from admission fees, museum shop sales, car show entry fees, grants, corporate sponsorships and foundation and private donations. It gets no money from the city or the W.D. Packard Trust.
The award of the federal expansion grant has put the museum in the national media spotlight.
Although some national media have singled out the museum's expansion as an example of pork-barrel spending, Porinchak said the publicity has greatly increased public awareness of the museum nationally.
The expansion grant has caused the museum to be featured in USA Today, The Washington Post and The Washington Times, as well as "Squawk Box" (CNBC's morning call-in show) and "Meet the Press."
"If anybody was going to get money from a transportation bill, why not the place that has a direct link to the national road system?" Porinchak asked.
milliken@vindy.com