Oct. 5—Greensburg officials are looking for additional state funding to help replace the aging refrigeration system at the city’s ice arena.

The city is seeking a $400,000 grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Local Share Account. The funds, which are generated through state gambling revenue, would supplement a $1.5 million state grant Greensburg is receiving for the arena project from covid-19 pandemic recovery dollars.

The city wants to replace the Kirk S. Nevin Arena’s 27-year-old, failing refrigeration system with one that is updated and improved. The existing system no longer is being manufactured, and the refrigerant it uses is “extraordinarily expensive,” said Glenn Moyer, manager of the arena and swimming pool at Lynch Field.

“To get a fairly small amount, you’re looking at $30,000 to $40,000,” Moyer said of the refrigerant.

He said the newer version the city has selected as a replacement is “more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. We’re excited that it’s going to be more up to date, and we’re looking to save about 25% on our energy bill.”

Unlike the city’s existing refrigerant, the newer version is designed to cause no harm to the Earth’s ozone layer if it were to be released into the air.

Renovation of the arena is expected to cost about $3 million and could be completed between April and August of 2024, Moyer said.

The work then would be wrapped up in time for the start of that year’s skating and ice hockey season.

The arena was built in 1968 and was last renovated in 1998.

In seeking the pandemic-related funding, the city noted arena revenue took a hit after the arrival of covid, when health guidelines limited use of the facility.

Normally, Moyer said, “Thousands of people come through there on a weekly basis.”

The Local Share grants are highly competitive, Moyer said.

“We hope they look at us and say, ‘You’re a great community asset. We want to invest in you,’ ” he said.

Moyer also is hopeful additional project funding can be obtained through Westmoreland County.

“We are the only publicly owned (ice skating) facility in the county,” he said. “That rink is used by everyone throughout the county. It’s not just a city recreational facility.”

The new refrigeration system should see the arena through the next 30 years or more, Moyer said.

“We’ll be bringing a whole new generation of kids through the building and getting them interested in skating,” he said.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at [email protected] or via Twitter .