Battleship New Jersey's grant restored in N.J. budget

A couple of months ago, the future looked bleak for the Battleship New Jersey. Gov. Christie's proposed budget eliminated a $1.7 million grant, leaving the ship's operators to wonder whether they would have to close the Camden waterfront attraction.

But this week, with the governor's signing of a compromise state budget, the highly decorated vessel chalked up another victory: It will receive the $1.7 million and can remain open.

Across the state, history, arts, and cultural organizations that already had slashed staffs, programs, and hours are coming to grips with the financial realities of the new fiscal year.

The operators of some attractions, such as the battleship and the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, have been relieved to learn their funding was restored.

Those operating others - such as the battleship's neighbor, the Camden Children's Garden - still hope for state money but are looking for corporate and foundation grants it case it doesn't come.

The battleship had a close call. "We hope never to have to go through this again," Jim Schuck, its president and chief executive officer, said of the anxiety brought on by the initial cut in state aid.

"What this [funding restoration] means is that we'll be able to bring back some people and paint the exterior of the ship. That's critical."

In the spring, he said, the ship will open an interactive attraction in one of its gun turrets that will allow visitors to take part in a loading and firing simulation.

"We're still going to be fiscally responsible," Schuck said. "We're lean and mean right now. We're not going to blow through the money. We're being strategic with what we do."

The state's aid to the ship was reduced during the last few years from $3.4 million annually. This year's $1.7 million is nearly 40 percent of the ship's budget.

If its dedicated funding had been eliminated, the attraction would have had to apply - along with about 60 other historical societies, museums, and sites - for $2.7 million dispensed by the New Jersey Historical Commission. The average grant from the commission was about $62,000.

In Trenton, the Old Barracks Museum, a state-owned Revolutionary War site visited by schoolchildren from every county in New Jersey, also had its funding reinstated. It had faced possible closure because the governor's proposed budget eliminated its $375,000 budget line item, a grant that funds an institution specifically.

"For the moment, we will be able to stay open and continue our efforts to raise money," said Richard Patterson, executive director of the Old Barracks. "We're very grateful and humbled by how it came out. This is a lifesaver."

The state grant is about 43 percent of the museum's budget.

The news has not been as good at the Children's Garden. The state eliminated the garden's annual $625,000 direct-services grant for operations and maintenance, said Mike Devlin, chief executive officer of the nonprofit group.

"We're not in the state budget," Devlin said. "We hope we can work our way through this situation and that we see restoration of at least some of the state aid."

It's a difficult time, he said, "but I think we'll overcome" the loss of funds. "We will look to our friends to help us out. We're looking at foundation and corporate donations."

The state already had canceled its operations agreement with the Camden City Garden Club, operator of the Children's Garden, and failed to pay more than $416,000 for the period from Nov. 1 through last month.

The garden had reduced workers' hours from 40 to 28 and days of operation from five a week to three this year.

Without further help from the state, the nonprofit may have to cut its holiday-lights event, when the garden stays open at night. It also may be forced to end its participation in the Philadelphia Flower Show, Devlin said. The garden has won 18 awards at the show.

"We're not going to die, but we have some difficult choices to make," he said. "We're very tenacious."