Businesses help family museum.(Phoenix Family Museum gets approval for bond offering)(Brief Article)

The Vision of four Valley parents for a children's hands-on learning museum in Phoenix is moving closer to reality with help from the business community.

The Phoenix Family Museum, which for the past few years has existed as a traveling Valley exhibit, is making progress on its goal of securing a permanent home and exhibits.

In March, Phoenix voters approved a $10.5 million bond to finance the facility, which could be developed from the former Monroe School at the southeast corner of Seventh and Van Buren streets.

The museum has started to collect exhibits including an airplane cockpit, postal Jeep and printing press. Money for exhibits as well as maintenance and operations, however, must come from donations.

Despite the weak economy, $550,000 …