Unalaska, AK – The Museum of the Aleutians was one of 23 institutions to receive an Alaska State museum grant. The grant amounted to $5,000, and it's meant to help the Museum of the Aleutians buy new equipment.

Executive Director Zoya Johnson says that the museum will spend the grant money on a new laminating machine, which should help bring down printing costs.

"This kind of in-house printing ability will allow us to save tends of thousands of dollars," says Johnson. "Every time we work on our exhibits, it costs us about $5,000 to send our materials to Anchorage and have them sent back. Being able to do this right here in Unalaska spares us the worry whether the materials will be sent back and in time for our upcoming exhibit."

Johnson adds that the Alaska State Museum grant-in-aid program is vital for small local museums.

"We have a pretty small operating budget, and $5,000 is a big deal for us."

The Alaska State Museum awarded 23 grants-in-aid for fiscal year 2011, totaling $105,600. The annual grants are funded by an appropriation from the Alaska Legislature. The grants ranged from $1349 for the Sealaska Heritage Institute to $10,000 for the Sam Fox Museum - which will pay for an exhibit case upgrade.

For fiscal year 2009, the Museum received a $9,520 grant to refurbish an exhibit case. Last year, the Museum did not receive one of the statewide grants.