CCC Building Improvement

The Building Improvement Campaign

~ updated August 2008

Before 411 S Western Avenue was the CCC--was a meeting place, a theater, a gallery, a classroom, a dance studio, a market place for fine arts and crafts, a commercial kitchen, and a children’s art camp--before all that it was a mechanic’s garage, a car dealership, and a tire store.

When you consider our building was constructed in the 1950s you get some idea how old the windows are, or the condition of the insulation. We inherited an antiquated oil furnace as the primary heat source, and no air conditioning. Many people have worked hard to make the best of an outdated place never built for the way we use it.

After years of 'making do' and temporary fixes, we decided to (once and for all) renovate the big, green, concrete building that's been serving the community so many years, and provide a beautiful, comfortable and inviting Community Center to all of northern Okanogan County.

Renovations are happening in stages over three years. We’ve divided the building into Front Half and Back Half, then we will finish the Upstairs. Each area will have its own heating and cooling system. Last winter the Front Half's heat pump was installed, which made classes and events there much more comfortable (no sending someone ahead by 3 hours to warm up the room with only the woodstove!)

The building's new, spacious, beautifully tiled restrooms are now complete.
click pictures to enlarge them in a new window or tab

The entry and hallway areas have been insulated, rewired, sheetrocked, painted, and had the floor evened out. There's new lighting, and even a pair of drinking fountains.

Hallway Arch

We will still need to insulate and replace windows in other areas, and replace an entire outside wall in the Back Room. There are also lighting and stage improvements, the entire upstairs area, as well as renovations to the exterior of the building (no scheduled time for these yet.)

We have had many donated hours and volunteers helping with this project. A local architect and an engineer both donated their services and our contractor and carpenters spent countless unpaid hours on our renovations as well. Many a CCC member came by to lend a hand--some a few hours, some a few days.

The total cost of renovations was estimated at over $400,000 over a year ago--a figure that keeps increasing with inflation. It's a large sum, but not impossible to obtain.

We have received grants from the Okanogan Family Faire, The Community Foundation of North Central Washington, Saturna International of Bellingham, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, and federal appropriations funds. These monies, along with profit from the last Tonasket Community Theater production and some private donations, started our Building Improvement Fund. More grants and fundraising events will be needed.

And we need YOUR support to make it all happen. Many grant agencies require us to provide matching funds and/or strong community support, which can be a financial donation or donations of goods and services. Since we're a 501(c)3 charitable organization your donations are tax-deductible. No amount is too small – it may seem like a drop in a large bucket, but that bucket will fill!

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YES! I would like to contribute to the Community Cultural Center Building Improvement Campaign in order to help support the necessary renovations to the CCC.

Because 3% of each donation would be lost to banking fees, we do not accept credit card payments or PayPal. Drop by the Center Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30am-4pm, or mail the following information with your check or money order made payable to "CCC Building Improvement".

__ I wish to make a one-time donation

__ I would like to pledge __monthly or __other _____________

In the amount of __ $20 __ ?$50 __ ?$100 __ ?$1000 __ other$_____

Name________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Phone______________________ email________________________

__ I am interested in working with the Fundraising Committee

__ I have goods or services I would like to donate

_______________________________________________________

Please mail to:
CCC Building Improvement Fund
P.O. Box 664
Tonasket, WA 98855