Avondale Youth Center Upgrades

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum County Commissioners opened a bid for the installation of a modern HVAC system into the Avondale Youth Center.

The building was constructed in 1911 to house disadvantaged youth and its structure has been recently tested and proved sound, deeming it a valuable asset to the county. 

Muskingum County Administrator Eric Reed described some of the much needed improvements and how those investments are being made feasible through outside grants. 

“Its current heat is provided by a boiler system and air condition is provided by window air conditioners, both of which are in poor state due to age and heavy use. So this bid opening today will replace all of that as well as provide a generator to back up the facility and new electric service to the facility. The facility is a unique place. It has accreditations that many counties don’t have to provide service to the youth,” Reed said.

G & M Construction from Zanesville submitted the only bid. It fell within the 20 percent window of the county’s estimated cost. The project will cost over $1.3 million and is estimated to be completed by December 31. The bid has been placed under advisement.

“We received a Community Project funding grant through the federal government in 2022 with Congressman Balderson’s office. It was a $450,000 grant. We also just recently received an additional $450,000 from the state capital budget through Senator Landis and Representative Holmes. So we have about $900,000 in grant funding to go toward the project, which has aided in our ability to complete the project,” Reed said.

The grants cover two thirds of the cost, which leaves the remaining third to be funded by the county as capital improvement expenditures. 

The Avondale Youth Center provides care for children who have experienced trauma through domestic difficulties.