During the most recent running of the Weatherly Hillclimb, the Greater Weatherly Community Library brought in over $900 selling turkey barbecue and potato pancakes.

“That’s a lot of revenue for the library,” said Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard, a library volunteer. “It’s a great event and certainly one of the premier events in Carbon County, and we’re happy to be a small part.”

Local organizations play a crucial role in the twice-annual event by selling food and beverages. Now the hillclimb is giving back to them by putting a roof over their heads.

A community center/pavilion is under construction near the hillclimb starting line.

The pavilion will provide a location for the organizations to sell food during the twice-annual event, and hold other events during the year, hillclimb association president Joe Cyburt said. Now they will have electrical hookups for the organizations to run their stands.

“It’s gonna be a community center for the nonprofit groups — they’ll be able to do different fundraisers and functions,” Cyburt said.

In the past, vendors were set up in the grass, underneath tents which had to be installed and removed for each event.

About four years ago the hillclimb association proposed the idea, and received a $20,000 grant for the project from First Federal Charitable Foundation. They raised the rest of the budget — about $50,000 in all — through sponsors.

Cyburt said the project would not be possible without local businesses and residents contributing their time and skills.

Richard Kane, Mengle Coal and Oil, Bruce Douglas Rick Hoffman Construction and Hazleton Materials have all offered discounted services in order to build the project.

Borough Manager Harold Pudliner Jr. wrote the grant application on behalf of the Hillclimb Association.

Construction began in late spring of this year. There was significant excavation work needed on the site before work could go forward.

During the September hillclimb weekend, drivers and spectators got a first look at the project. The 40-by-60-foot concrete pad for the building is in place.

“Right now it’s a huge improvement over what we had, and it’s just a matter of finishing what we started,” Cyburt said.

Cyburt said partnering with nonprofits like the library and Little League is a great way to help them raise funds. He said the event also benefits the small businesses in town and the surrounding area.

Gerhard said the Hillclimb Association has done a great job of keeping the event thriving after taking over during a period of uncertainty more than a decade ago.

“The drivers will tell you it’s the best hillclimb anywhere — that speaks volumes about the job the hillclimb association is doing,” he said.