Stimulus funds help schools complete window projects
W.F. Morrison School in Troy replaced the last of its single-pane windows on Tuesday. Libby High School expects to receive its window supplies within a week or two. And Eureka Elementary School replaced some windows that had been boarded up for the past 20 years.
The Montana Department of Commerce awarded Troy, Libby and Eureka school districts a total of more than $800,000 in federal stimulus funds earlier this year through the Quick Start Energy Efficiency Project to conduct energy audits and complete projects to make their buildings more efficient.
The amount of stimulus funding that the Department of Commerce awarded the county and its municipals and school districts totals nearly $1.9 million, commerce director Anthony Preite announced Monday morning during a press conference in front of the county courthouse.
Preite noted that with exception to the Department of Transportation, his agency received the most federal stimulus funds. He commended city, county and school district officials and his staff for their part in getting the grants out quickly.
“We are so far ahead of any other state,” he said, mentioning that it took only eight weeks to get contracts out for the 176 Montana school districts that were awarded a total of $15 million in Quick Start grants.
Troy schools superintendent Brady Selle estimates that the elementary school’s new windows in entryways and 12 classrooms will save over $5,000 annually on energy costs. The district also used its grant to replace the last of the high school’s single-pane windows in two classrooms.
As soon as a shipment of supplies arrives at Libby High School, workers will replace single-pane windows at a rate of about six to eight rooms per day, superintendent Kirby Maki said. The district pitched in about $60,000-$70,000 of its own funds, in addition to the $161,500 it received, for the project.
“We feel that’s a good investment,” Maki said. “We expect to recoup that (what the district put in) in a seven- or eight-year timeframe (based on energy savings).”
Maki said that energy efficiency is not the only gain.
“The rooms are going to provide a much better environment,” Maki said. “The newer windows keep it cooler in the fall and spring, and warmer in the winter.”
The City of Troy is spending its $22,879 in stimulus funds toward improvements to its city hall – sidewalks, lighting and building restoration. Eureka repaired a main arterial road with $24,303, and Libby will spend its $52,395 toward a new water main on Thomas Street.
Lincoln County divvied up its nearly $250,000 between industrial districts in Libby and Eureka. Tobacco Valley Industrial Park received about $75,000 to contribute to its well and septic systems, and Kootenai Business Park Industrial District will use the approximately $175,000 toward a water line to allow bridge fabricator Stinger Welding to connect to city water.
Local Government Grant Project Awards
• Libby: $52,395.41 – Water main on Thomas Street
• Troy: $22,879 – Improvements to city hall’s exterior – sidewalks, lighting and building restoration
• Eureka: $24,303 – Main arterial road repair
• Lincoln County: $247,058 – Improvements to Tobacco Valley Industrial Park and Kootenai Business Park Industrial District
Total: $346,635
Quick Start Energy Efficiency Project Awards
• Libby High School: $220,199 – Energy audit ($58,699); window improvements ($161,500).
• Troy High School and W.F. Morrison Elementary: $197,212 – Energy audit ($16,400), window improvements ($180,812).
• Eureka Elementary School: $421,016 – Energy audit ($67,500), lighting/window improvements ($353,516).
Total: $838,427