The recipient entity's physical address:
           945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130-3813

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130-3813

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Robert Dupont

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0790

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $5,000,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Board of Trustees

2019-2020 Officers
Hilliard, C. Paul - Board Chairman
Koerner III, John E., Vice Chairman
Georges, John D., Vice Chair
Hairston, John M., Vice Chair
Courter, James A., Immediate Past Chairman
Weggeland, Ted, Secretary
Brandt, Raymond J., Treasurer
Watson, Stephen J., President & CEO

TRUSTEES
Abbott, Jr., Herschel L.
Adkerson, Richard
Anderson, Dwight
Asness, Clifford S. "Cliff"
Augustine, Norman R. "Norm"
Berger, Brandon *
Blackwell, J. Kenneth
Bollinger, Donald T. "Boysie"
Bouillion, Harold J. - Trustee Emeritus 2017
Bylen, Michael S.
Chanos, James S.
Clement III, James H. *
Coaxum, Jr. Henry L
Crump, Ralph
Freeman, Louis M. - Trustee Emeritus 2015
Foss, Peter N.
Goldring, William A.
Goodyear, Charles W. "Chip"
Gruber, Thomas A.
Hill, Hunter G. *
Knittel, C. Jeffrey
Koerner III, John E.
Lane III, H. Merritt
Lauscha, Dennis P.
Leventhal, Alan M.
Lupo, Robert E. Smith
McKnight, Markham R.
Merrick, Robert W.
Mestayer, Suzanne T.
Morris, Michael A.
Mueller, Gordon H. "Nick", Ph.D. - President & CEO Emeritus
Muilenburg, Dennis A.
Nierenberg, David
Olson, Jane T.
Osborne III, William M. "Will"
Patrick, Robert J. "Bobby"
Pearl, Lisa, PhD, J.D.
Pérez, Sonia
Priddy, Robert L.
Reiss Jr., James J. "Jimmy"
Ricketts, Todd
Rockefeller, Wyatt *
Rodriguez Jr., Edwin "Rod"
Rubin, Mark M.
Sanderson Jr., Joe F.
Satre, Philip G.
Savoie, Robert "Bobby", PhD
Sewell, Peggy H.
Stream, W. Gray *
Swieca, Henry
Taylor, Sharon E., PhD
Turner, Thomas H.
Villeneuve, André F.
Whitman, Governor Christine Todd
Wilson, Governor Pete

Robert W. Farnsworth, Senior Vice President will be the primary contact for the projects.

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Museum proposes to use the new funds for two important projects: improvements to Constance Street Storage & Artifact Restoration Warehouse, & major renovations to the original Louisiana Memorial Pavilion—which serves as the Museum’s main entry and the site of the original D-Day Invasion of Normandy exhibit.

The ongoing success of the Museum is contingent on constantly upgrading facilities & expanding programs to attract & inspire visitors from across the country, ensuring The National WWII Museum retains its ranking as one of the top museums in the world, & the top destination attraction in the State of Louisiana.

With these funds, the Museum’s Constance Street Storage & Artifact Restoration Warehouse would be renovated to support an expanded collections management team, create space for curatorial & education functions, & provide a venue for artifact restoration, all essential to the Museum’s mission.

The planned improvements to the Constance Street Storage & Artifact Restoration Warehouse will provide space for restoration, storage, & offices, as well as classrooms for training curatorial staff.

The second project encompasses two vital components of the original Louisiana Memorial Pavilion: The D-Day Invasion of Normandy Exhibit & the Visitor Entry. When the original exhibit opened nearly 20 years ago, it set a high standard for the visitor experience. As the Museum has expanded to tell the entire story of the war that changed the world, each new pavilion has provided an ever-higher level of design & execution. The D-Day Exhibit no longer rises to the Museum’s own standards for excellence. The immersive gallery treatments, graphics, & technology all need to be substantially upgraded to meet our current Museum standards.

The arrival experience of any venue creates an all-important first impression & should reflect the quality & the significance of the visitor experience within the venue. While Founders Plaza is itself significant, the actual Museum entry to Louisiana Memorial Pavilion is underwhelming, does not function effectively during peak visitation periods, & is not readily recognized as the main entry. The Museum has created an impactful entry concept that speaks to the level of the experience within the Museum.

As always, the State funds will be leveraged with substantial private funding that will magnify the impact of the State’s investment.

Beginning with Governor Foster, the State of Louisiana has provided critical support for the $400M expansion, which, as it approaches completion, has elevated The National WWII Museum to recognition as one of the great museums of the world. In 2018, the leading online travel rating service, TripAdvisor, ranked The National WWII Museum as the #8 museum in the world. The Museum could not have achieved this success without State support.

The Museum’s economic impact on the City & State is significant & growing. Almost 85% of Museum visitors come from outside Louisiana, & exit surveys show the Museum is driving more than 385,000 room nights in New Orleans. Beyond the economic impact, which alone would justify the State’s investment, the Museum remains a great source of pride for the citizens of Louisiana. Many nationally recognized figures that support the Museum such as Tom Brokaw, Tom Hanks, & Gary Sinise are a constant source of positive national publicity for the City & State.

The mission of the Museum—to tell the story of the greatest generation who gave so much for the freedom that we enjoy today—will always be critical. Our support for these projects ensures that their sacrifice will be remembered & will inspire generations of Americans for many years to come.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $8,000,000
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The mission of The National WWII Museum is to tell the story of the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today - so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Tom Hanks, an earlier spokesman for the $400M capital campaign, said, "The National WWII Museum is a place where you come to learn with your heart as well as your head." It is been described as a place where you go to feel America's greatness.

The State of Louisiana is fortunate to have America's National Museum honoring the generation that fought in World War II located in New Orleans. But beyond the mission of the Museum, the Museum is a major destination attraction for the City and the State. It is rated by Zagat's as the attraction with "Top Appeal" in the City of New Orleans. Almost 80% of the visitors to the Museum are from outside the New Orleans region. In surveys, fifty percent of the out-of-town visitors state the Museum as the first or second reason they came to New Orleans. Thirty percent of those visitors state The Museum is the primary reason for their visit. This defines The National WWII Museum as one of the true destination venues in the City and State. Surveys also show that visitors to New Orleans stay an average of three days in the City. Current visitation for the Museum is over 800,000 and visitation is projected to grow to 1,000,000 upon completion of the expansion. The Museum is an economic engine for the City and the State responsible for driving 385,000 room nights a year. Additionally, the expanded Museum is driving ever increasing tax revenue.

State funding for the Museum is a great investment because the State dollars are substantially leveraged with private funds.

As important as the direct economic impact is, the Museum has possibly a more profound impact on the City and State as a result of the positive image it creates arising out of the often very emotional visitor experiences, as well as the many national and international events sponsored by the Museum both here and in other parts of the country. The Museum is fortunate to have relationships with several national personalities such as Tom Hanks, Tom Brokaw, and Steven Spielberg, who often speak about the importance of the Museum to national audiences.

The National WWII Museum remains committed to our mission and to our City and State.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          BECOME THE FINEST HISTORY MUSEUM IN THE WORLD. We believe 300,000 square foot, $400M expansion when complete will make The National WWII Museum, which today is rated by Trip Advisor as the 3rd best museum in the U.S. and the 8th best museum in the world, the NUMBER ONE HISTORY MUSEUM in the WORLD.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           two to three years

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 n/a

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               n/a


Contact Information
name:  Robert W. Farnsworth 
                                       address:  945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
                                       phone:  504-528-1944 x450
                                       fax:  n/a
                                       e-mail:  bob.farnsworth@nationalww2museum.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Senior Vice President