SEL donation will cover HVAC gap on projects

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories has announced it will fund more than $19,000 towards a new HVAC system for the building Council on Aging purchased.

The grant will cover a cost COA faced after buying the building and could not afford.

The COA purchased the former Elk’s Club building, at 121/123 North Main Street with a capital funding grant from the State of Washington. This money is also slated to pay for a new roof and insulation upgrades.

When the roof work started, it was discovered that the old HVAC system needed to be replaced. Ackerman Heating gave the COA a quote at that time for a new system, but it was not in the budget for the building and the COA did not have the money to pay for it.

A few weeks ago, COA told Ackerman Heating they could not afford the new HVAC system and would have to re-install the old system when the roof was done.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, SEL notified the COA that they had read through their grant request to help with the cost of the HVAC system, and they were going to completely fund it.

The new roof should be completed next week, and the HVAC system will be going in soon.

The COA hosts Colfax senior meals each week, is the home of the Whitman County Food Coalition and is the ‘hub’ of food distribution for 11 rural Whitman County food pantries. Abundant Faith Studios is a tenant in the building.