Local plastering contractor, Jim Blackburn, has put a lot of sweat equity into the Impression 5 Science Center. Blackburn’s devoted every free moment he’s had to changing the science center’s fading façade.
Blackburn’s
been working on the façade for the last month. He’s putting up a type
of blue and red synthetic stucco to match Impression 5’s colors. And
he’s doing it for free.
“I thought it was a good cause,” he says. “It’s a nonprofit for kids.”
The
Impression 5 Science Center attracts mini-consumers from all over the
state. Executive Director Erik Larson says the Center’s been making
significant interior investments for years, but the outside of the 1880
building has been neglected for far too long.
“It
was an effort for us to make a better first impression for all of our
visitors,” he says, adding that Blackburn’s generous support made the
change possible.
“It’s important for all of us—all of the businesses down here—to put our best foot forward to keep people coming back,” he says.
Source: Erik Larson, Impression 5 Science Center
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.