The Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $247,500 grant to Helena's new children museum, which remains under construction in the Great Northern Town Center.

The grant was announced earlier this year by Sen. Max Baucus and confirmed this week by Rep. Denny Rehberg. Four projects across Montana will share a portion of the $980,000 HUD grant.

"As local economics continue to grow throughout Montana, it's important to improve the services offered by the communities," Rehberg said in a Tuesday press release. "Economic development grants are essential to bolstering economic development in Montana."

Suzanne Wilcox, executive director of ExplorationWorks!, the new children's museum, said money from the grant will go toward constructing the new $1.8 million, 21,000-square-foot science museum.

"We have not yet received the check, but the construction of the building with those dollars is basically covered," Wilcox said. "We're still raising funds for exhibits and programming."

The museum is on track for a March 2007 opening that will feature a themed exhibit, "The Healer Within," presented by the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The exhibit features the human body and self-healing. Two local healthcare groups are working on presenting a complementary exhibit, including "Healthy Lifestyles" and "Mind-Body."

Every quarter a new themed exhibit will come to the museum. Next year will also feature a display on aeronautics and wind energy.

"It's really exciting," said Wilcox. "It's so much more tangible to see the building in three dimensions, to see the space where things will be."

Missoula received two grants including a $495,000 grant to the Montana Food Bank Network and $198,000 for the Missoula Aging Services.

Traveler's Rest Preservation and Heritage Association in Lolo received $39,600.

ExplorationWorks! is currently hosting several summer camps including a culinary camp, a garden camp and a science and nature class. To find out more call ExplorationWorks! at 406-457-1800, or log on to www.explorationworks.org.