A $100,000 Community Enhancement Grant has been given to the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.  The money is to be used to “create lesson plans, enhance the museum exhibit, and purchase technology for the classrooms at its new building,” according to the UT Web site .

The center is currently housed in the Hoskins Library, but will move to its new building at 1640 Cumberland Ave. this fall.  Grand opening festivities are being planned, though the exact dates are not yet known.

State Senators Jamie Woodson and Tim Burchett sponsored the Community Enhancement Grant bill, and each spoke at the press conference at which the grant was awarded.

Primarily, the money will be used to create programs for teachers, students and the public.  Also, audio and visual aspects that had to be cut from the original plans for the museum due to cost restrictions will once again be added to the exhibit.

The center has already put on many successful workshops and programs, which attract many people from different backgrounds.

“We regularly fill up the [University Center] auditorium.  A lot of the public comes to our programs and workshops, as well as a lot of students,” said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Baker Center, “So many students are interested in public policy, and it’s not just [Political Science] or History majors.”

The Baker Center expects to further these programs, as well as draw people into the museum.

“We’re hoping that the public comes to learn in the museum,” said Lowe, “We want to bring in high school and middle school students as well.  This is for everyone.”

The Baker Center started in early 2003, “to develop programs and promote research to further the public's knowledge of our system of governance and to highlight the critical importance of public service,” according to the Baker Center Web site .