A proposed children’s museum in Winter Garden is among a dozen projects seeking a share of Orange County’s tourism development tax revenue, which could bring millions of dollars in public funding to local projects.

The I AM Children’s Museum, proposed by 8 Waves, is seeking up to $25 million toward the roughly $30 million project.

A citizens task force recommended 12 projects for tourism development tax funding Tuesday. The Orange County Commission will make the final decision on how the money is allocated.

8 Waves Executive Director Sara Meyer said the museum would fill a gap in the region and serve as both a tourist attraction and an educational resource for local children.

“There is not a children’s museum here in Orange County,” Meyer said. “We have this incredible opportunity to be a cultural asset.”

The proposed museum near downtown Winter Garden would include indoor and outdoor exhibits, a trail connection and the restoration of a historic home. Organizers expect the attraction to draw about 250,000 visitors annually.

The project has also raised questions about traffic in the growing downtown area.

Meyer said 8 Waves is working with hotel partners on shuttle services to reduce the number of cars coming to the museum. Plans also call for a parking garage and golf cart access.

The organization says the project could also benefit Winter Garden’s economy by bringing visitors downtown to shop and dine.

But Meyer said the museum’s impact would extend beyond tourism.

She said the project would give students opportunities to experience early childhood education and create an educational resource for families in the community.

Tourists who stay in Central Florida hotels pay a tourism development tax, which generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually for local governments to invest in tourism-related projects.

The Orange County Commission will ultimately determine which projects receive the funding.