The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs announced that its 2024 budget of $222.8 million will be allocated for New York City's cultural organizations and will serve over 75 organizations across the five boroughs.

The Bronx Botanical Garden is one of the institutions receiving funding from the budget. They say they will use the money to build an operations center that will be used for day-to-day operations that keep the garden in its best shape. 

The Bronx Botanical Garden's staff says the building will be climate-friendly and will have net-positive energy, meaning it will create more energy than it uses. 

"This is a building where the work of the garden really happens. It's the behind-the-scenes work that makes this such a special place, happens in this site. Our engineers, our staff that make the garden run," says Jennifer Bernstein, CEO and president of the New York Botanical Garden. 

The Bronx Zoo and the Bronx Museum are also two institutions included in the funding. According to the city's Cultural Affairs Department, the 2024 budget is the second largest in its history. 

"This is an incredible opportunity for many organizations to have a home for the very first time," said Laurie Cumbo, commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. "Many are going to be expanding, renovating or building their dream institution for the communities that they serve."