Binghamton’s American Civic Association Gets HVAC Funding

The American Civic Association in Binghamton is getting help upgrading its environmental systems at the offices at 131 Front Street.

The non-profit agency that has helped immigrants to the area get settled in the Southern Tier for decades has been dealing with an air-conditioning and heating system that is older than most of the people working at the facility.

Now, the City is providing $150,000 from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to replace the American Civic Association building’s air handling unit that is around 60 years old.

The new unit will improve the energy efficiency of the building, which can save the ACA money on its fuel bills. The new unit will also address a more contemporary concern.  In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the issue of indoor air quality has become much more important, if not essential to ongoing operations.  The new system includes a modern air sanitation system, which can help reduce the transmission of airborne contaminants like COVID-19 in workspaces.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham says “The American Civic Association provides invaluable services to the Binghamton community, supporting local immigrants and refugees and fostering pride in our area’s diversity.” The Republican, in making the funding announcement, went on to say, “This funding will allow the ACA to make essential upgrades to their building to ensure they can keep their doors open and continue serving our community for many years to come.”

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ACA Executive Director Hussein Adams says, like most non-profits, the group finds it a challenge to find extra money to take on costly projects while continuing to focus on the mission of, in his words: “building bridges of understanding between people of all backgrounds.”

The ACA was founded in 1939 and serves immigrants and refugees in the Greater Binghamton area, offering citizenship classes, English as a Second Language classes, legal clinics, translation assistance and other services.