DETROIT, MI - The DTE Energy Foundation is donating $1 million to the Michigan Science Center, which reopened in December 2012 after being closed for a little more than a year.

The support from the Detroit-based utility’s philanthropic arm will be divvied up over five years. The funding commitment from DTE and other corporate sponsors such as General Motors, Ford and Toyota will help the science center effectively manage its budget as it implements its outreach programs, said the science center’s marketing manager, Kerri Budde.

“They’re multi-year initiatives, so it helps us with funding for not just the 2014 operating year, but to plan for the future for 2015 and 2016,” Budde said.

Formerly known as the Detroit Science Center, the facility at 5020 John R St. in Midtown got new life in 2012 with millions of dollars in philanthropic support, after indefinitely closing its doors in September 2011. When it reopened in December 2012, the center had received more than $5 million in commitments or donations from more than 25 different organizations.

In October, Tonya Matthews was named president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center, replacing Jim Issner, who was serving as interim executive director. Matthews was previously in management roles at the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Maryland Science Center, and has focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs.

STEM education programs will continue to be a focal point for the Michigan Science Center, as it strives to live up to its moniker and broaden its reach beyond southeast Michigan, Budde said. The center has already done traveling programs as far as Indiana and Traverse City, and has been fielding calls from interested parties in Grand Rapids.

In addition to corporate and foundation support, walk-in traffic and on-site ticket sales make up a large portion of the science center's funding. About 384,000 people attended the science center or its full year of operations after re-opening. That figure includes special events, educational programs and facility rentals. More than 92,000 people attended off-site, traveling programs. The attendance was in line with expectations, Budde said.

David Muller is the business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.