The Leonardo, the nonprofit science and technology museum on Salt Lake City’s Library Square that has long been weighed down by debt, won’t receive any financial help from the county’s Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) program this year.
The museum has recently seen a third of its creditors forgive about 20 percent of its total debt outright, and it has negotiated long-term payment plans for the remaining $2.9 million.
But it didn’t submit a certified financial review or audit with its 2018 application for county funds, according to the advisory board that helps to determine ZAP awards. The board explained its decision in a report to the Salt Lake County Council.
“Taking that into consideration, along with the board’s concerns over the organization’s financial situation and ongoing viability, the board chose to decline the Leonardo’s application for funding,” the report said.
The Leonardo’s chief impact officer did not respond to a request for comment on Friday but told The Salt Lake Tribune in August that the organization feels “very confident” that it can grow its savings to invest in growth and manage debt in the future.
This was The Leonardo’s first year not being funded, according to ZAP Program Director Kirsten Darrington.
