The Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin is rejoicing after spending a dozen years lobbying the Province for funding.

They'll be receiving $40 million over the next three years as part of the provincial budget, which will help them secure more vehicles, airplanes, and motorcycles from Central Alberta's past.

MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose Bruce Hinkley says with the money, the museum will build a new facility to store, display and restore more items.

"Because the Reynolds Museum is quite famous worldwide for their restoration work on antique cars, motorcycles and equipment. So it is a project to help the Reynolds-Alberta Museum grow, and serve a larger, wider public."

Hinkley says the Reynolds Museum has been lobbying for this funding for over a dozen years.

"When I became a new MLA, they met with me and expressed their frustrations that they had actually been notified about up to $25 million worth of possible artifacts they could have received had to be passed up. But they had to say no because they didn't have the space."

Hinkley says another benefit will be the impact on local businesses thanks to visitors stopping in to see a few more antique machines from as far back as the 1890's on display.

"That's the other ripple effect that the other citizens in Wetaskiwin are quite happy about too. Because whether it's going out to restaurants, coming for events or seeing other things around the city, it's going to take 3 years to build so there will be employment in the construction. Then there will also be a need for more staff. To do all the cataloguing, the preserving, restoring, and showing."

Hinkley encourages everyone to make the day drip this year up to check out the Reynolds-Alberta and learn a little bit more about Central Alberta’s history.