Idaho Public TV gets $97,153 in federal grant, but still facing state-funding phaseout by 2014

IPTV, facing 2014 state phaseout, gets fed grant

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Public Television faces losing all state funding by 2014, but it’s due to get a nearly $100,000 lift in the current year as part of $25 million in federal grants being divvied up nationwide by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Director Peter Morrill learned Thursday of his station’s $97,153 share, meant to maintain local programming and services and preserve jobs that are threatened by declines in nonfederal funding stemming from the poor economy.

Morrill said the grant was good news in an otherwise tough week that began when Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter announced plans to eventually eliminate the station’s $1.6 million in state funding, a move that could mean cutting 20 jobs starting in July.

Morrill was uncertain just how he’ll be able to put the federal grant to work, but is investigating if he can use it to help ease six unpaid furlough days that 11 members of his staff will likely have to take before June 30.