Bids for upgrades at the historic Mauch Chunk Opera House totaled over $200,000 for three projects that are scheduled.

On Thursday, the Carbon County Commissioners opened bids for the three projects at the opera house. They include electrical work, upgrades to its air-conditioning system, renovations to the sound system and bathrooms and more.

Carbon County handled the bids because it applied for the Local Share Account grant that the opera received for the project. The grant totals $169,069.

George Hayden, doing business as Hayden Power Group of Hazleton, bid only on the electrical portion of the contract. The company’s bid was $66,700.

Other bidders included Leibold Inc. of Pottsville and Myco Mechanical Inc. of Telford. Both companies bid on all three projects.

Leibold’s total bid for the renovations came out to $241,700 and broken down was $162,000 for project 1; $42,000 for project 2; and $37,700 for project 3.

Myco’s total bid came in at $227,000 and broken down was $140,000 for project 1; $44,000 for project 2; and $43,000 for project 3.

The commissioners then voted to table the bids for two weeks so everything could be reviewed.

The grant must be used by June 30, 2023.

In September 2018, the county agreed and applied for the money on the opera house’s behalf.

The Mauch Chunk Opera House is a nonprofit organization and music venue that seats approximately 380 people and brings approximately 25,000 people per year to downtown Jim Thorpe and Carbon County.