FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) _ Investors who want to build a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark say it would attract 1.6 million tourists a year and create 900 permanent jobs in Williamstown, Ky.

Mike Zovath, co-founder of the Answers in Genesis ministry that opened the Creation Museum three years ago, says the ark would be part of a theme park that also includes a replica of the tower of Babel.

Gov. Steve Beshear  says he favors providing tax incentives to encourage investors to move ahead with the Ark Encounter project.

Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, objects, saying “the government should not be giving tax incentives for religious projects.”

But American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky staff attorney Bill Sharp says he doesn’t see any constitutional problem with the state granting tax exemptions for the project.