Steamboat Springs — Tread of Pioneers Museum officials announced Monday that they had received a $50,000 challenge grant from the Gates Family Foundation to help with the cost of the museum’s planned construction of a new collections and exhibit building in downtown Steamboat Springs.

According to a news release from the museum, the grant is dependent on the museum raising the total project cost of $980,850 by Nov. 1. The total project cost includes the $50,000 from the Gates Family Foundation.

The museum plans to tear down its existing collections building on Eighth Street and replace it with a new, larger facility that museum officials say would be better suited for safekeeping historic local artifacts. The 4,280-square-foot new building also would connect with the museum’s existing space, creating additional exhibit space. Construction could begin this spring and be completed by the end of the year, according to Tread of Pioneers Museum board members.

The project’s final development plan and planned unit development were approved late last year by both the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission and the Steamboat Springs City Council.

Museum officials say they’re only $90,000 short of their fundraising goal, and they’re optimistic news of the Gates Family Foundation’s challenge grant will motivate additional local donors.

“We hope that local residents and businesses will also recognize the merit of this project and will be inspired to follow the lead of the Gates Family Foundation and

give generously to this expansion project,” Candice Bannister, the museum’s executive director, said in the news release.