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Calvert Marine Museum (CMM) Director Doug Alves calls it a “shovel-ready project.” However, museum officials’ plan to renovate the Solomons facility’s exhibition building needs $2 million in funding before the work can begin.

Alves and other CMM officials presented concept drawings and a floor plan for the project to the Calvert Board of County Commissioners during a Tuesday, Sept. 27 work session. Several components of the project’s design were completed two years ago at a cost of $80,000. Alves said half of that funding came from private sources.

The plan would not expand the building but alter the interior so as to give CMM extra space for lectures, classrooms and events.

“It’s an effective use of existing space,” said CMM Deputy Director Sherrod Sturrock. “It’s making space work better for our programs that are already there.”

Sturrock stressed that there would be no CMM staff increases as a result of the renovation. “We recognize the economic situation,” she added.

“We are not relying solely on taxpayers,” said CMM Board of Governors Chairman Don McDougal, who explained the panel plans to raise several thousand dollars to help fund the project.

“We’ve been talking to our volunteers, the public,” said Sturrock. “Everybody’s very enthusiastic. It’s a relatively small project. We hope to have the money in place so that the project can start in the summer of 2012.”

According to CMM officials, they have a goal of raising $500,000 through a capital campaign, are hoping to obtain $250,000 through a state bond bill, anticipate $1 million in funding from the county and will seek the balance through grant money and other sources.

“You did this design when we were in a different fiscal situation,” said Commissioners’ President Susan Shaw [R]. “I can’t sit here and tell you the money will absolutely be there. I hope we can do it. It’s going to come to pass. We just don’t know when.”

McDougal said he was “fairly certain” the CMM Board of Governors could raise $500,000 since all of the board members “are energized.”

The other commissioners agreed that several of the county’s capital projects might have to be delayed in order for the board to craft a balanced budget for fiscal year 2013.

Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] admitted he has not heard many complaints about CMM’s planned renovation project from people in the community.

“Reality is reality, but I’m very optimistic,” said Clark.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com