ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Albany Museum of Art is one step closer to breaking ground at its future home — the old Belk department store in downtown Albany.

Now, the next step is finding the right local contractor to bring this vision to life. With $3 million secured from Dougherty County, $4 million from the city of Albany and additional funds from public and private donors, the museum is ready to select a contractor.

Officials have narrowed the list to three local firms: JCI General Contractors, Inc.; LRA Constructors, Inc.; and Pellicano Construction, Inc.

Museum Director Andrew Wulf emphasized that prioritizing local contractors underscores their commitment to serving the community.

“In the new museum, it will be truly a technology-advanced museum,” Wulf said. “It has two state-of-the-art classrooms, and we will have more educational support. We will be able to handle the anticipated… We know that it is known interest that we have in our programs.”

This project is a cornerstone of the city and county’s broader downtown revitalization efforts. Projections show that within a year of its relocation and expansion, the museum is expected to generate $1.4 million in labor income and between $2.1 million and $3 million in economic output.

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“We will do our part, which will be significant, but we also hope that our presence down there will help pave the way for other businesses to move into the area,” Wulf added. “So, it’s not going to all happen overnight. It may happen over a decade, but we are happy to be a part of that momentum.”

Wulf said the Albany Museum of Art is expected to announce its chosen contractor on Dec. 19, with groundbreaking anticipated for this spring.

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