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H2. NWMTHM Hist Grant Public HearingCITY OF KALISPELL MEMORANDUM To: Doug Russell, City Manager Cc: Jarod Nygren, Director of Planning From: Katharine King, Community Development Re: Public Hearing on Northwest Montana History Museum, Montana Historic Preservation Grant Application Meeting Date: April 6, 2020 BACKGROUND: The Northwest Montana History Museum is a City of Kalispell owned property which is operated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under the direction of a volunteer board of directors. The History Museum has applied for $72,981 in funding through the Montana Department of Commerce, Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program for the purpose of repairing the building's HVAC system. Per the grant application: The Central School building, where the Northwest Montana History Museum is currently located, is a 22,000 square foot building erected in 1894. It was included as a contributing structure in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The building has served as a school house, Flathead Valley Community College, and, starting in 1999, the Northwest Montana History Museum. The Museum is operated by the Northwest Montana Historical Society, a registered 501(c)3 organization. The Museum preserves, protects, and in part displays some 45,000 artifacts, photographs, records, and documents that tell the story of Northwest Montana. Additionally, the building provides a meeting space that hosts over 100 events annually and provides multiple K-12 and adult education programs. Optimal temperature to increase the longevity of museum collections is 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Storage and display of the Museum's collection accounts for 60% of the Museum's 22,000 square footage. The Museum currently lacks key components to the heating and cooling systems, putting at risk the historical collection as well as decreasing comfort for museum visitors, staff, and groups using the meeting areas. $72,981 in MHPGP funds are requested to flush and clean the HVAC system as well as replace 42 malfunctioning valves and actuators. These improvements are part of a larger heating and cooling upgrade and will protect the collection and the historical building, and provide a comfortable atmosphere for staff and visitors. The Northwest Montana Historical Society (NWMTHS) recognized the building's heating and cooling deficiencies in protecting the collections and prioritized needs in 2015. To date, it has raised over $95,000 in grants and private donations to revamp the outdated system. REQUESTED ACTION: Hold public hearing to gather public comment on the Northwest Montana History Museum grant application to the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program. FISCAL EFFECTS: If awarded grant funding, the Montana Historic Preservation Grant will fund proposed project. No funding is requested of the City of Kalispell. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested and approved by the City Council. ATTACHMENTS: Northwest Montana History Museum application to Montana Historic Preservation Grant program. 201 1st Avenue E IPhone (406)758-7730 PO Box 1997 Planning Department Fax (406)758-7739 Kalispell, MT 59903 1 1 www.kalispell.com Northwest Montana Historical Society HVAC Renovations and Upgrades Applicant: Northwest Montana Historical Society, Inc. February 27, 2020 Organization Type: 501c3 Property Owner (if different from applicant): City of Kalispell Authorized Representative of Applicant/ Jacob Thomas, Executive Director Primary Contact: 124 2nd Ave E, Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 756 8381 museum@ nwmthistory.org Project Type: History Museum — Climate Control Total Amount Requested: $72,981 "dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of the community through acquisition, preservation, and display of material related to local history, and to the involvement of the public of museum programs through research, community events, and volunteer opportunities" n NWIHISTDAY MT MUSEUM 1 Grant Funding Request Information 6. Project Address: Amount Requested: $72,981 124 Second Avenue East Total Amount of Leverage: $1,170 Kalispell, MT, 59801 Total Project Phase Cost: $74,151 Total Project Cost: 7. Funding Sources Source Type of Funds Amount Status of Rates and Terms (if Commitment (provide applicable) documentation as applicable) MT Historic Preservation Grant $72,981 Pending Grant Northwest Energy Grant $1,170 Committed Treacy Foundation Grant $10,000 Phase Complete Operating Software Anonymous — Family Grant $48,000 Phase Complete Foundation Private donations Private $38,500 Phases Complete Brief Description of the current project and proposed solution or activity to be completed; including background of the project and description of proposed solution. The Central School building, where the Northwest Montana History Museum is currently located, is a 22,000 square foot building erected in 1894. It was included as a contributing structure in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The building has served as a school house, Flathead Valley Community College, and, starting in 1999, the Northwest Montana History Museum. The Museum is operated by the Northwest Montana Historical Society, a registered 501(c)3 organization. The Museum preserves, protects, and in part displays some 45,000 artifacts, photographs, records, and documents that tell the story of Northwest Montana. Additionally, the building provides a meeting space that hosts over 100 events annually and provides multiple K-12 and adult education programs. Optimal temperature to increase the longevity of museum collections is 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Storage and display of the Museum's collection accounts for 60% of the Museum's 22,000 square footage. The Museum currently lacks key components to the heating and cooling systems, putting at risk the historical collection as well as decreasing comfort for museum visitors, staff, and groups using the meeting areas. $72,981 in MHPGP funds are requested to flush and clean the HVAC system as well as replace 42 malfunctioning valves and actuators. These improvements are part of a larger heating and cooling upgrade and will to protect the collection and the historical building, and provide a comfortable atmosphere for staff and visitors. The Northwest Montana Historical Society (NWMTHS) recognized the building's heating and cooling deficiencies in protecting the collections and prioritized needs in 2015. To date, it has raised over $95,000 in grants and private donations to revamp the outdated system. 9. Certification to Submit: The undersigned authorized representative hereby certifies that (a) the information set forth in this application is correct to the best of his/her knowledge; (b) s/he has received, read, and understood these guidelines and agrees to comply with all requirements; (c) the elected officials of the local government have formally authorized the submittal of this application, as applicable; (d) s/he has the authority to act on behalf of the applicant in submitting this application, and (e) agrees to comply with all applicable state or federal laws and statutes associated with carrying out the project. Jacob Thomas, Executive Director Printed Name and Title MHPG Application Section II. Statutory Criteria A: The degree to which a project supports economic stimulus or economic activity 1. This project will have an economic impact in the following areas: a. Job creation for Montana contractors, service workers, and other related jobs This project will create jobs for local contractors and HVAC technicians totaling $64,720 in wages for the duration of the project. b. Local economy The duration of the actual project is relative short, estimated at about two months. The economic impact felt in the local economy as a direct result of the project is the induced economic impact as employees' wages will be spent on things like housing, food and leisure, adding to the local economy and tax base. The project will result in other economic benefits after successful completion of the work. These long-term impacts are discussed later in this document (Criteria F) c. Increased tourism. Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau's Destination Marketing Plan identifies museums as one of the top priorities for non-resident visitors. Flathead Valley is rapidly expanding and becoming a tourist destination. The Flathead Valley/ Kalispell metropolitan region is the second -fastest growing urban area in the State of Montana, with Flathead County surpassing 100,000 residents for the first time in 2019. It is now the 4th largest county in the state of Montana. Having this many residents naturally translates to an increase in visitation to the region and the State of Montana in general. In addition, visitation to nearby Glacier National Park has doubled in the past decade, topping off at 3.31 million visitors in 2017 and remaining well over 3 million annually since then. The Northwest Montana History Museum is the largest and preeminent history Museum in this part of the state. Not only will this recent increase in population and visitation allow the NWMTHS to share the history of Northwest Montana with an over- expanding audience, but all of these visitors to Glacier need places to eat and things to do before and after their trip to the park. An improved HVAC control system will allow the Museum to expand its open hours and public offerings to bring more people into downtown Kalispell. The Northwest Montana History Museum is the largest historical institution in Northwest Montana, providing a comfortable space for Museum guests as well as a well-preserved and cared -for diverse collection will bring more visitors to the Flathead Valley and Montana in general. 2. The project relates to community goals and previous or concurrent planning efforts Kalispell is a town that is proud of their heritage and supporting historic preservation, yet at the same time a town at the forefront of planning for tourism growth and economic development. As detailed by the 2020 FY marketing plan from the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, one of the most exciting plans in 4 development is the construction of a new bike and pedestrian trail in downtown Kalispell, providing two miles of new trails through the historic downtown. In addition, in February of 2020, the Kalispell Downtown Business Improvement District was awarded a grant through the Montana Main Street Program to set standards and guide property owners to renovate historic buildings. With the overwhelming support of the community towards commerce downtown and historic preservation, the Northwest Montana Historical Society's project relates to community goals. Statutory Criteria B: The degree to which the project activity demonstrates purpose and need 1. The current use and condition of the historic resource: The NWMTHS preserves, protects, and in part displays some 45,000 priceless and irreplaceable artifacts, photographs, records, and documents. Included in the exhibits are the personal collection of Montana pioneer Frank Bird Linderman; dozens of mounted animals, including a mountain lion and grizzly bear; the oldest bald eagle mounts in existence; an American Indian scarred tree; the first printing press used by the Daily Inter Lake; collections and photographs from Longtime Northwest Montana historians Lou Bain and Thain White; the c. 1880 bar, which was originally used in a Demersville establishment called the Two Jims - then Kalispell's Pine Grove Bar until 1971. The Museum is also used for educational programs, group meeting space, the School Bell Bookshop and Gifts and staff offices. The Northwest Montana History Museum contains 82 HVAC wye strainers throughout the 22,000 square foot building. After a year of testing, it was found that 42 of the 82 valves and actuators in the museum were either significantly impaired or had stopped working entirely. Additionally, the water being pumped through the system to heat the building was full of sediment. These factors inhibit flow and temperature control to the entire facility. Climate needs differ greatly throughout the building due to its many uses: • Approximately 60% of the building is used for museum exhibits and collection storage. The optimal temperature for museum collections is 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, with little fluctuation. As this temperature range is cool for visitors, the museum should be able to control the temperatures 24 hours a day to accommodate preservation of the collections as well as comfort for museum visitors. • Approximately 15% of the building is used for meeting space. Since this space is not used as often as other space, its climate control needs are minimal compared to the rest of the building. However, when the rooms are full for special events in the summer or winter, heating and cooling the gathering of guests is of the utmost importance to ensure events like this can continue. • Approximately 20% of the building is used for office space, building facilities, and infrastructure. Climate control should enable staff to keep offices comfortable while in use as well as limit the use of heating/cooling in non -essential rooms. • Approximately 5% of the building houses the School Bell Books and Gifts. This space should maintain a comfortable temperature during hours of operation. Currently, the heating and cooling system cannot meet these requirements. Rooms that do not require heating are being heated because of impaired and broken valves and actuators. Additionally, the system is not working at full capacity due to sediment in the wye strainers. This results in unnecessarily high monthly heating and cooling costs, uncomfortable conditions for staff and visitors, and less -than ideal conditions for exhibits and collections. 2. The deficiency the proposed project will address and how it has impacted the historic resource, and the amount of time the deficiency has existed. 5. The selection and prioritization of this project and plans to preserve and maintain the historical resource. A 2.4 million dollar renovation of the Central School building was completed in 1998 that included a heating and cooling system with a Staefa control panel and Lochinvar Copperfin boilers. After two decades, even the most well -maintained HVAC system begins to show its age and fail, especially in a four-story, brick building. When facing the drastic temperature differentials in northwest Montana (negative degrees in the winter and increasingly hot in the summer), a properly functioning HVAC system is vital, as fluctuating temperatures can damage museum collections. In 2015, the Northwest Montana Historical Society recognized that major updates and much -needed maintenance was required to protect its invaluable collections and ensure long-term success. If the needs were not met, suitable environment for our audience would suffer and the Museum would not be able to preserve its 1894 building and historic collection long into the future. In response, the board of directors consulted with several local HVAC experts to develop and implement a campaign to renovate each component of the aging heating and cooling system. The campaign was comprised of the following steps, ordered by priority: Task Cost Status New circulation pumps and A/C chiller $65,500 Completed in 2016 New A/C pump $13,020 Completed in 2017 New operating software (old software utilized Windows 95 and was no longer effective) $18,400 Completed in 2019 System flush and new valves and actuators $66,895 (estimated) To be completed in 2021-2022 as funds become available New boilers $70,000 (estimated) To be completed before 2028 Add'I valves and actuators (the remaining 40 are 20+ yrs old and will eventually need replacing) $58,500 As needed/as funds become available System maintenance 1 $12,000 annually I Ongoing 3. How the proposed project will address the identified deficiency. Funding from Montana Historic Preservation Grant will enable the museum to flush its HVAC system and replace 42 valves and actuators. In the past, the Northwest Montana Historical Society has been able to turn the heating and cooling system on or off, but without any kind of specific temperature controls. Successful completion of the project will allow the NWMTHS to control the temperature in each and every room in the four-story Central School building, setting specific and appropriate temperatures for public, office, and collections storage spaces that comply with museum standards. 4. How receiving MHPG funding will enable proper completion of the proposed project and enable the long-term financial stability of the resource. MHPG funding will enable the Museum to flush the heating and cooling system and replace failing valves and actuators. The completed project will affect the long- term financial stability of the Museum by: • A properly functioning heating and cooling system will lower electricity costs to the Museum significantly. • A properly functioning heating and cooling system protects the longevity of collections vulnerable to fluctuating or harmful temperatures. The ability to provide an ideal environment will enable the Museum to procure more items and expand exhibits. • A controlled, comfortable environment will increase visitation to the museum, prompt visitors to spend more time looking at exhibits, and attend more evening events at the museum. • A comfortable meeting space will bring more return groups to utilize the meeting space. Statutory Criteria C: Timing of the project can be completed without delay, including access to matching funds and approval of permits. 1. The organizational capacity and ability to complete the proposed project in a timely manner. Repairing the Museum's heating and cooling system has been an ongoing process. The Museum, working with HVAC professionals, prioritized needs and successfully raised funds to complete the highest priority tasks in a timely and effective manner; namely, purchasing and installing new circulation pumps and an air conditioning chiller, purchasing and installing a new air conditioning pump, and purchasing and installing new "smart" climate control software. The NWMTHS is ready to move forward with the next phase of the project — a system flush and installation of new valves and actuators. Cost estimates have been completed for the project and a timeline was provided to the Museum by HVAC experts; no permits are required for the project and won't impact the timeline. The Museum has a great track record for completing heating and cooling projects in a timely manner thus far and is ready to start the next phase as soon as funding becomes available. 2. The status and availability of all matching funds needed to complete the proposed project. To date, NWMTHS has raised over $95,000 in grants and private donations to upgrade the heating and cooling system in the building. They used the funds to address the highest priority tasks, and will continue to secure funds until the heating and cooling system project is complete and the Museum provides the ideal temperatures for exhibit display and storage and comfortable for staff and visitors. A grant of $1,170 from Northwestern Energy has been secured and will be applied to labor costs associated with replacing the broken or malfunctioning valves and actuators. 3. How MHPG funding will enable the ability to leverage additional funding such as grants and loans Receipt of MHPG funding will enable the organization to focus efforts on raising funds to complete the final steps of the project — purchasing and installing new boilers ($70,000), eventually replacing additional valves and actuators as they degrade ($58,500), and support the Building Maintenance Fund to provide ongoing maintenance of the system ($12,000 annually). 4. Potential timeline considerations that are related to permits, environmental considerations, or related activities to complete the proposed project. Work for this project must be completed during temperate weather (spring or fall). Because of the preparation and established timelines already in place, as soon as funding is secured, the NWMTHS is in a position to request bids and hire a contractor for the work so that the project can commence as soon as the weather permits. Statutory Criteria D: Project activity contributes historic or heritage value related to the State of Montana 1. Describe the historical context and significance of the historic resource associated with the proposed project including the heritage value related to the state of Montana and the local community. Built in 1894, the solid stone and brick, 22,000 square foot, four-story Central School building in downtown Kalispell continuously served the educational needs for generations of Flathead Valley students across 95 years, and became the rallying cry, and corner -stone, of the Northwest Montana Historical Society. When the last tenant, Flathead Valley Community College, moved to a new campus in 1989, Central School fell into a serious state of disrepair, to a point where some in the community wanted to tear the historic building down and turn the space into a parking lot. In 1993, School District Five sold the property to the City of Kalispell for one dollar with the stipulation that the building remain standing. This provision, along with its inclusion as a contributing structure to a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, ensured its survival at least temporarily. A group of concerned volunteers, passionate about not losing our history, re -organized the Northwest Montana Historical Society in 1994 to save and restore the building, and turn it into a history museum. From 1994 to 1996 the group raised funds, polled the community, and completed feasibility studies, ultimately gaining enough support to secure a commitment from the City of Kalispell to invest $2.4 million of tax increment funds for the renovation of Central School, which was completed in the fall of 1998. The NWMTHS opened what was at that time named the Central School Museum to the public in January of 1999, supported solely by private funds, requiring no further public monies, and has experienced steady growth and improvement since then. More than 110 permanent and temporary exhibitions and displays have been produced by NWMTHS and enjoyed by local residents and out -of -area visitors during the past two decades in the Museum's 6,900 square feet of display space, along with a multitude of educational and cultural programs to benefit the community. In 2019, the NWMTHS rebranded the Museum as the Northwest Montana History Museum to better reflect the contents of the Museum and fulfil the mission of the organization. The NWMTHS and Museum has a staff of a full-time Executive Director, a part-time office manager & volunteer coordinator, a part-time maintenance worker, a part-time membership coordinator, and some 50 dedicated volunteers. This group of staff and volunteers are passionate about Montana history and the integrity of the Museum, and provide the many exhibitions and programs listed below. The Museum's collection includes seven permanent exhibitions that illuminate local history: • The Early Residents Honor Roll honors those whose integrity, hard work and belief in the future shaped the town of Kalispell. These are just some of the people who created the legal, judicial, civic, industrial, religious and educational foundations of our Valley. The Northwest Montana Historical Society believes these valiant pioneers deserve to be honored and their stories preserved. To that end, the Museum has established a place of honor for these early residents, along with a memory book to record their colorful histories. 10 • The History of Flathead Valley exhibition tells the story of how we got here and why we stayed. Vignettes of early homesteading families, the communities they established, and the various means of transportation they used are featured in the exhibition. The Flathead Valley exhibition features artifacts that help tell the story of the early days of Northwest Montana settlement, including the first postage boxes in the Valley and salvaged artifacts from the wreck of the Kee- O-Mee pleasure steam ship on Flathead Lake. • The family of Frank Bird Linderman (1869 —1938) has curated this special exhibition at the Northwest Montana History Museum. Original artifacts along with artifacts on loan from the Mansfield Special Collections at the University of Montana in Missoula. These artifacts, documents and photographs tell the Story of Linderman, an early pioneer on Flathead Lake that fought hard for American Indian rights and contributed heavily to the politics, literature, and art of Montana. Artifacts include I" editions of Linderman's books and personal letters from Charlie Russell. • Before Kalispell, there was Demersville. A city unlike any other at its time, Demersville was once the premier destination in the Flathead Valley. The once -active community is now a deserted stretch of rural road. But Demersville has not disappeared completely; all over Kalispell, there are dozens of reminders of the community if you know where to look. The Greetings from Demersville display chronicles Demersville downtown and historic buildings, the Cliff House Hotel, the early lake steamboats, the military post and the Buffalo Soldiers, and Demersville pioneers and personalities. • History of Central School features photos, artifacts, and stories from every facet of Central School's existence, from its early years as the educational center of Kalispell to the many efforts to save the building and establish a museum in the 1990s. • American Indians of Northwest Montana displays a collection of rare and diverse artifacts that illuminate the Golden Age of the American Indian from 1750 to 1875. Featured are tools and weapons of bone and stone, beaded items, hides, clothing, trade cloth and muslin, children's toys, and a full-sized tipi. The displays tell the story of why the buffalo was such an important part of Indian culture. The collection includes items used in native spiritual ceremonies and religious societies. A touch table is provided to let visitors directly feel fur, leather, bone, and antlers, all of which played a part in daily life. This is an American Indian exhibit of unusual authenticity that allows the visitor to see how our early tribal residents lived and their importance to the Flathead Valley. • Sand Monkeys, Tie Hacks, and River Pigs tells the story of the men who laid their lives on the line every time they went out to work. The timeline of the logging industry that began in 1875 is chronicled through artifacts, photographs, and documents, that depict what everyday life was like in remote logging camps. In addition to the artifacts displayed in these permanent exhibits, the Northwest Montana Historical Society has a collection containing records of 3391 artifacts, 6685 photographs and negatives, 2773 historic books, and 2271 archival volumes. In addition to designated storage and work areas around the Museum, the NWMTHS also contains two temporary and rotating exhibit halls that are used to more completely tell different stories of Northwest Montana history. The exhibits cycle twice a year, allowing 11 the NWMTHS to limit the exposure of light damage while still exhibiting a large portion of the collection and following strict standards for artifact transportation and installation, ensuring the integrity and preserving the value of the historic collection. The Museum offers many educational opportunities and programs: The John White Speaker Series is a multi -media series hosted on Sundays during winter months. Up to 100 attendees (the event typically sells out) enjoy light snacks while distinguished authorities and northwest Montana historians present a multitude of subjects relating to Montana history and culture. The John White Speaker Series began in 2002 and honors beloved Central School bell ringer and custodian John White, the son of a Texas slave, who served at Central School for over 30 years. He knew all the students, and they knew and respected him, as did the citizens of Kalispell in the 1920s through the 50s. John White graduated from Flathead County High School in 1922 and became perhaps the most remembered figure in the history of Central School. The McClaren 1895 Classroom Program was started in 2007 as a hands-on cultural and historical experience for Flathead County third grade students. The historic Central School building first opened its doors to students in 1895. In nearly 100 years of providing the educational needs of the Flathead Valley, it served as a high school, a junior high school, and a grade school, as well as provided classrooms for the growing Flathead Valley Community College. It seems only fitting a museum that started out as a school should create and provide an educational program that carries out the time-honored tradition of ringing the historic school bell to welcome students from around Flathead County to learn what school was like in the 1890s. Since 2007, over 6,000 students have had an opportunity to take part in living history. Two educational travelling trunks related to the program are available to borrow statewide and the program is starting to get participation from students outside of the Flathead Valley. The Museum's monthly book club and movie club were both established in 2008. The book club always highlights literature about the American West. Whenever possible, authors attend the book club meetings to discuss their works. The movie club is a monthly event showing classic films, often highlighting Montana. Each club meeting draws between 25 and 100 attendees. The archives of Northwest Montana History Museum are always open to researchers. A trained volunteer is always ready and willing to help aid an interested visitor in their search for genealogical information, home records, or historic events in Northwest Montana. The NWMTHS has several tools that are helpful for historic research, including nearly eight decades of bound Daily Inter Lake newspapers; meeting minutes and correspondences of past non-profit organizations in the area; a well - organized reading library containing books published in or about the region, and the largest public photography collection in the Flathead Valley. Numerous businesses, restaurants, and office buildings in Kalispell display printed photographs from the NWMTHS' collection in their public areas. The Museum also serves as an important community gathering place, hosting each year some 70 rental events, in addition to around 40 museum -sponsored events. Numerous groups have taken advantage of the Museum's rental space, including the Kalispell Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, the Montana Partnership of Nonprofit Development, and the Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates. The Museum has also played host to special private events such as weddings and high school reunions, bringing this type of gathering and all of the commerce and additional spending that goes along with it to downtown Kalispell. 12 Populations served include local residents and out -of -area visitors, local students K through 12 (nearly 1000 students per year benefit from free school field trips, and roughly 600 3rd graders attend our MClaren 1895 Classroom annually); senior citizens who tour from local assisted living centers; and a wide variety of local citizens from the 70 community groups who annually take advantage of our two large elegant rental rooms. Total annual museum attendance of visitors, tours, museum events, and room rentals is more than 15,000 individuals. 2. How the proposed project will sustain the character defining features and integrity of the historic resource 3. How the proposed project will help promote and interpret the heritage value of the historic resource. It is significant that the very first large-scale public building the young city of Kalispell chose to erect was a schoolhouse, which was completed in 1894. The Central School building was the first public building in town with hot water, electricity, and indoor plumbing. The Richardsonian Romanesque architecture style is the only one of its kind in Northwest Montana and very uncommon in Montana in general, preserving a piece of history that is not found anywhere else. The building has served in a public and educational capacity for 125 years, and now as a Museum, the Northwest Montana Historical Society is proud to preserve the historic integrity of the structure and the collections contained within. The building can only be preserved with the support of the public, and therefore having a climate that is applicable to visitation and public events is a necessity. The thousands of books, archives, photographs, and artifacts contained in the Museum are only kept safe from degradation and mold with a working system for temperature control. The heritage value of the historic collection of the Northwest Montana Historical Society is incalculable. Much the NWMTHS collection is one -of -a -kind and unique to the Museum (for example, the bell from the first fire station in Kalispell, or the oldest taxidermized Bald Eagles in existence). A greater degree of temperature control will allow the NWMTHS to acquire new artifacts and pursue loans from other historic institutions at a greater degree than in the past, allowing the Museum to expand interpretation for the existing collection and further promote Montana history. Proper temperature control will result in new acquisitions, new public interpretation, expanded public programs, and a renewed focus on all of the historical collections currently stored within Central School. 13 Statutory Criteria E: The applicant demonstrates a successful track record and organizational experience directing the project or similarly related projects 1. The organizational capacity and experience with similar projects of all project partners. 2. The organization's most recent project, including how the organization overcame significant barriers The NWMTHS identified the need for an upgraded heating and cooling system in 2015. In that time, they have successfully secured over $95,000 in private and grant funds and successfully completed the highest -priority needs for the project, including purchasing and installing new circulation pumps and an air conditioning chiller, purchasing and installing a new air conditioning pump, and purchasing and installing new "smart" climate control software. Throughout this process, the NWMTHS has been exceedingly thorough, learning as much as possible about the museum's complicated HVAC system and the components within. In order to allocate limited resources effectively and efficiently, the organization has consulted and worked with a large number of local heating and cooling professionals for this campaign, including Bill and Diane Yarus of Airworks; Jonathan Massie of 406 innovative Solutions; Tim Erwin of Timco Services LLC; Mark Palmer of Great Northern Heating and Cooling; Lee Wild of Blacktail Heating and Refrigeration; Tom Clark of Kalispell Plumbing and Heating; and Justin Dickey of Diamond Plumbing and Heating. Only after developing a consensus about what needed to be replaced and which components were most critical did the NWMTHS begin to formulate a plan and seek out funding to implement it. Jacob Thomas, Executive Director of the Museum, has been successfully administering grants for the organization since 2017. Most recently, the NWMTHS received an award of $10,000 from the Treacy Foundation in 2018 to replace the building's climate control software. The Museum secured over $8,000 in matching funds (private donations) to complete this most recent phase of the project. The work was completed in the allotted time and no changes in the scope of work or budget were required. The new software was more complex than the older system; training for the new software was not included in the scope of work. To overcome this hurdle, staff reached out to ElectroControls and received necessary training for the system at no additional cost to the NWMTHS. Note: A copy of the organization's most recent audit is not required for this funding opportunity and not included in the application. An audit can be completed upon request. 14 Statutory Criteria F: Ongoing economic benefit to the state as a result of project completion The ongoing economic impact of the proposed project to the local or regional area as a result of project completion. Upon successful completion of the project, increased revenue from museum visitation and lowered operating costs will allow the NWMTHS to hire an HVAC technician to maintain the system and ensure its ongoing operation. The John White speaker series is offered five times during the winter months and consistently sells out. Upon successful completion of the project, the Museum will be able to expand the series to seven times per winter. Many of the 100 attendees dine out before or after the event, bringing in revenue for local restaurants. Over 100 of events like the John White Series take place each and every year, allowing attendees and guests a chance to eat, drink, and shop in the community before and/or after visiting the Museum. All of these events give local authors and craftsman an opportunity to expand their audience and sell their wares or books. The museum offers meeting space at almost 40% less than comparable facilities to non -profits. Providing a more comfortable space will draw more local groups to use the space, saving them money and allowing to invest more in the community. An operational heating and cooling system will give the museum the ability to procure and safely store more artifacts. As a result, more museum exhibits will be displayed. When a new exhibit is erected, new signs, temporary walls, and display materials are required and will be purchased locally whenever possible. The NWMTHS is a participant in a program called Experience Works, which is designed to provide on- the-job training to senior citizens that are struggling financially, in an effort to teach participants new vital skills and introduce them back into the workforce. From the start of this campaign to upgrade the HVAC system in 2015, the NWMTHS has hosted four participants in the Experience Works program. All have improved themselves as professionals and grown into more hirable employees; one is currently employed at Albertsons, another went to a local framing store called the Artist's Workshop, and a third is currently the Membership Coordinator at the Northwest Montana History Museum. 2. The ongoing economic impact of the proposed project to Montana as a result of project completion. On a national level, for every dollar spent at a museum, $2.20 is added to the state/local economy. In Montana, museums contribute $117 million to the state's economy'. Compared to other states, this number is relatively low. The museum recognizes this as an opportunity to take steps that will benefit Montana's economy: The Museum's Schoolbell Books & Gifts sells a variety of Made -in -Montana items, and, in 2019, offered Montana -made Christmas items for the first time. The seasonal stock sold out entirely. This resulted in a 200% increase in sales compared to a year prior. A functioning heating and cooling system will allow for ' Oxford Economics, December 2017. Museums as Economic Engines, A National Report 15 increased hours of operation at the books shop, and allow for the museum to continue the upward sales trend of Made -in -Montana items. Increasingly, out-of-state visitors are looking for destinations that provide bicycle -friendly tourist attractions. The NWMTHS is partnering with Core and Rail to create a self -guided bicycle trail highlighting the area's history while promoting business in historic downtown Kalispell. The Museum will serve as a highlighted destination along this trail, and an upgraded heating and cooling system will allow the Museum to expand hours and offerings to welcome this anticipated larger audience. 3. How this project will enable future phases and detail how such subsequent work will provide an economic benefit as a result of project completion. The boilers at the museum were last replaced during the 1998 renovation. Since boilers generally last from 20 to 30 years, the museum anticipates replacing the boilers before 2028. This step of the heating and cooling project is estimated to cost $70,000, and will be contracted to a local HVAC provider. As the existing valves and actuators age and wear out, they will need replacing, creating additional jobs for local HVAC technicians. 4. The long-term vision for the historic resource and how this project fits into organizational plans. The Northwest Montana Historical Society has experienced a period of organizational growth recently. Membership to the organization has increased to over 500 (a 7% increase in the last year), visitation to the Museum has been at an all-time high in 2019, and each and every one of the Museum's public programs has also set attendance records, with many completely at capacity. An upgraded HVAC control system will allow the Museum to take steps to ensure that this growth continues: expanded open hours during hot or cool seasons, expanded educational public programs in the Museum's event halls, and more public events that will be held at the Museum and contribute to the local economy. Beyond an increase in offerings, the Northwest Montana Historical Society is looking into the future. Being able to keep this important historical collection preserved is of the utmost importance. The NWMTHS is looking towards a future of continually providing new exhibitions, innovative public programs, and an expanding slate of educational opportunities for the next generation. This can only be accomplished by preserving the historic integrity of our 1894 building and the historic collection contained within into perpetuity. a. Will this project decrease your operating costs, and, if applicable, how will those savings be reinvested? Completion of this project will decrease operating costs significantly. Once the system is flushed and the failing valves and actuators are replaced, large scale rehabilitations such as this one will be a thing of the past. It is much more efficient financially to be able to provide regular maintenance over a scheduled period than having to replace components. An increase in efficiency will also be seen in the NWMTHS' electricity and natural gas expenditure. The Museum will be able to invest more time and materials to update existing exhibits. Infrastructure to create new exhibits, like signs, building materials will be purchased with money saved. Proper temperature controls in all areas of the Central School building will 16 drastically increase efficiency in both electricity and natural gas usage. Additionally, the Museum may be able to advertise the new exhibits. That, combined with a comfortable atmosphere, will draw in more museum visitors, and enable the Museum to increase hours of operation. With a climate that has at times been unsuitable for human visitation, the NWMTHS has been reluctant to open for more than five days a week and put any more strain on the exhibiting HVAC system as already possible. New actuators and valves will allow the Museum to increase open hours of operation to six days a week (possibly seven in the busy summer months) and serve more visitors to the Museum and Northwest Montana. 17 Project Budget Table BUDGETfor: Northwest Montana Historical Society HVAC Renovations and Upgrades Date:2/28/2020 SOURCE: MHPG SOURCE: Match (Identify) SOURCE: TOTAL Building Materials $14,278 $14,278 Labor — contracted with local HVAC provider $51,405 $1,170 Northwestern Energy $52,575 Administration $7,298 $7,298 TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET $72,981 $1,170 $ $74,151 Budget Narrative Building Materials: Total $14,278 • System flush - Chemical solutions: $2,728 • New valves and actuators - $275 each x 42 = $11,550 Labor: Total $65,425 in MHPG funds • System flush — 176 hours x $95 per hour = $16,720 • New valves and actuators — 12.5 hours per unit x $95 per hour x 42 units = $49,875 Administration: Total $7,298 • Administration is calculated at 10% of MHPG grant funds Implementation Schedule TASK MONTH / YEAR ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Publish RFP July 2021 Select firm August 2021 Professional services Draw August/Sept 2021 MAJOR ACTIVITIES/MILESTONES Construction bidding July 2021 Select contractor August 2021 Construction September 2021 Substantial completion October 2021 Project Closeout December 2021 Drawdowns Submit draft report and request first drawdown of funds Sept 2021 Submit final report and request final drawdown of funds October 2021 19 Environmental Review Process Statement from the Northwest Montana Historical Society, Inc. for the Northwest Montana Historical Society HVAC Renovations and Upgrades Project As laid out in the application and guidelines for the 2020 Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program, the Northwest Montana Historical Society, Inc. has begun the Environmental Review Process for the for the Northwest Montana Historical Society HVAC Renovations and Upgrades Project. The process will be completed, and all required review forms and assessments submitted, before the May I, 2020 deadline. A public review process and public hearing concerning the Northwest Montana Historical Society HVAC Renovations and Upgrades Project has been scheduled for 5:00pm on Thursday, April 9, at the Northwest Montana History Museum. The notice for the meeting will be distributed in the same manner that the NWMTHS distributes any notice about events and changes at the Museum: through social media, the Northwest Montana History Museum's website (nwmthistory.org), and in the Spring quarterly newsletter. Signed: Name: Title: Executive Director Date: 2/27/2020 20