Methow Valley Community Center Association

The Methow Valley Community Center (MVCC) is a cultural landmark in Twisp, Washington, a small rural town located in north central Washington State. Initially constructed as a school in 1912, the building has served as a vibrant community center for over forty years, after it was decommissioned as a school. 

MVCC operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit by the Methow Valley Community Center Association (MVCCA) with a twenty-year renewable lease from the Methow Valley School District. Although over 100 years old, the building remains structurally sound and useful; it has been well-maintained over its long life. 

Installing heat pumps and air filtration will allow the MVCC to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, while also serving as a clean air refuge and cooling center for the community during emergency events. Our community center serves our most vulnerable population who use the center daily, including elders, children, and low-income parents. Installation of heat pumps will provide reliable winter heating and summer cooling, wall insulation will reduce heating and cooling costs, and air filtration will remove small particles that are health hazards. 

The Methow Valley has experienced some of the largest wildfires in the nation, with excessive and unhealthy wildfire smoke from 2014 through 2023 -seven out of nine years. Currently, there are few clean air facilities in our region to help during these emergencies.

Our goal is to accommodate the community during extreme heat and smoke events. With a progressive plan to retrofit our community center with heat pumps and air filtration, we have determined that the facility can operate in this capacity. Heat pumps will replace our existing fuel fed furnace that is over eighty years old. With this, along with an insulation package included in our plan, we will become an energy efficient facility ready to serve our community now and into the future.