The city of Huntsville, Alabama will give a financial boost to its cash-strapped U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Huntsville is giving the Center $250,000 to help keep it afloat as it struggles with a debt of $19 million that was incurred from building the Davidson Center for Space Exploration and doing other projects, the Montgomery Adviser reported.

Obviously, we can't (give extra money) to every outside agency, city mayor Tommy Battle told The Huntsville Times. But in the case of the Space and Rocket Center with the amount of tax dollars they return, this is a wise investment of the city's money.

The Center has an extensive offering of programs and draws for visitors, including space camps and other programs for kids, a NASA Educator Resource Center, and the Rocket Park, according to the Center's Web site.

Local officials cited the Center's big draw of tourists and as a reason to help keep it running. Last year, the Center had approximately 550,000 visitors, The Huntsville Times reported.

They've got some financial challenges, and we want to help them this one time, city councilman Bill Kling said, WHNT News reported. Historically they bring in tens of thousands of dollars of sales tax and other revenue to the city...I think it's good faith on their part, and I certainly want to give them my support.

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