Kittitas County lends support to Old Heat renovation project at CWU

The Old Heat renovation project at Central Washington University received support from the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners earlier this month when the board agreed to send a letter backing CWU’s application for $3 million in federal funding.

The university and a team of partners in April 2025 are working to renovate the historic Old Heat facility on University Way into a business incubator space.

As the Ellensburg Daily Record reported March 16, a recent feasibility study stated that the proposed Old Heat Commercialization Center could create hundreds of high-wage jobs in aerospace and precision component manufacturing, clean technology, and other targeted sectors.

County commissioners agreed during their March 16 administration meeting to send letters of support to Washington’s congressional delegation of Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and Representative Kim Schrier of Washington’s 8th Congressional District.

“Kittitas County faces a structural economic challenge common to many rural communities,” the letter said. “While Central Washington University provides a strong talent pipeline and research capacity, the county's economy remains concentrated in lower-wage sectors such as education, government, retail and hospitality. As a result, the county's median wage remains significantly below the statewide average.”

If the federal government moves forward with Community Project Funding request, the funds would be available in 2027.

According to the feasibility study funded by the Washington State Capital and Economic Recovery Board, the Old Heat project could support approximately 250 direct living-wage jobs “and generate substantial long-term local tax revenue for the community.”

The feasibility study for the renovation effort was made possible by a recent Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Old Heat was built in 1946 and was taken offline in 1971, then used for storage through 2017. It’s been eyed for repurposing since 2016, after hazardous material was removed from the facility and the future of the structure was envisioned as a community education center.