The Laramie Plains Civic Center (LPCC) is moving closer to completing its building-wide LED lighting project, thanks in part to a $5,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation. The grant will support the next stage of LPCC’s ongoing energy efficiency upgrades, which aim to improve lighting quality, reduce energy use, and preserve the historic 1878 building for generations to come.
LPCC is a nonprofit organization serving Albany County by providing affordable space to over 90 tenant organizations and offering community programming in arts, education, and recreation. In the past year, LPCC has completed critical lighting upgrades in its gyms, restrooms, and much of the first floor. This new support from the Wyoming Community Foundation will help extend those improvements into additional tenant suites and public areas.
“These upgrades are a critical investment in the long-term sustainability of the Civic Center,” said Jessica Brauer, Executive Director of LPCC. “The utility costs for our large building are substantial, and these improvements will significantly reduce that burden and allow us to continue keeping our spaces accessible for the community.”
Fremont Electric installs upgraded light fixtures as apart of Phase 1 of the LED lighting upgrade project in the Civic Center’s South Gym. The South Gym hosts Open Gym and the Play Library as a free space for Laramie families to gather in the open space adjacent to Sunshine Coffee five days a week.
The newly installed LED fixtures are part of a building-wide upgrade plan projected to improve lighting quality while reducing energy use by an estimated 60%, according to ROI Energy, Rocky Mountain Power’s contracted partner for efficiency upgrades. In addition to lowering energy consumption, the upgrades extend the lifespan of the lighting system, reduce maintenance costs, and improve overall reliability.
Additional funders who have supported this long-term project, totalling $170,000, include the Albany County Recreation Board, Wyoming Energy Authority, and Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky Program. The remaining cost to complete the full project is approximately $42,000.
To learn more about the Laramie Plains Civic Center or to donate, visit www.laramieciviccenter.org or contact Jessica Brauer at jessica@laramieciviccenter.org or (307) 745-8000.
The Wyoming Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with donors to support the charitable causes they care most about. In 2023, the Wyoming Community Foundation granted over $8 million to charitable causes across the state. For information call 307-721-8300 or visit their website atwww.wycf.org.
