SUNNYSIDE, WA (OCTOBER 16, 2014) -- Lower Valley Credit Union (LVCU) will celebrate the completion of its new 10,000-square-foot, two-story corporate headquarters and main branch with a week of ceremony and celebration beginning with the building's dedication on October 28, 2014.
"This project has been met with remarkable anticipation on all fronts," said Suzy Fonseca, president and CEO of LVCU. "We purchased our original location in 1988, with five employees and an asset size of $3 million. We now have more than $80 million and 20 employees under the same, slightly altered roof."
LVCU's steady growth and subsequent expansion plan have been in full swing for the better part of a decade. The credit union opened a new branch in nearby Prosser in 2005, another in Grandview in 2010, and broke ground at its new headquarters in August of 2013. The building sits on nearly an acre of land at 900 E. Yakima Valley Highway –across from Snipes Mt. Brewery.
"A new LVCU corporate office has been a long time coming," Fonseca said. "We simply owe it to our membership and community to properly represent them in a building they could be proud to call their credit union. Our growth pattern has been tremendous, and housing this type of demand is best suited to a larger space. Although we’ve certainly managed to accomplish great things in tight quarters, we are excited by what we are planning to do with space to spread our wings."
Serving as both a main branch and corporate office, the building features an Internet hub, a multi-purpose conference room available for community meetings, a "Kid Zone" emphasizing financial education for children while their parents visit the branch, a duel-language ATM, a self-service coin machine, secure document shred station, and –most interestingly –tear-away walls to accommodate future expansion.
"We focused our attention in three areas: paying homage to our history, the importance of our membership, and our agricultural roots that tie our valley together," Fonseca said of the building's design. "We are a strongly rooted credit union and our path through history, although very humble, is one that we are very proud of, so naturally we felt the need to share this with all who enter our doors–we look forward to dedicating the stone and bronze monument positioned at our new entryway to our 25 founding members.
"It was extremely important to us to ensure our membership was represented throughout the entire design of the building. The shape and color of the building was selected to encourage conversation and ultimately welcome the community in. The materials within the building were chosen with the idea that all would feel comfortable walking in either right off the farm or in a three-piece suite. A curved history wall gives you a glimpse of our humble beginnings, and our continued focus on serving our member. The art throughout the building is not simply of our valley’s bountiful harvest; we took that concept further and sought permission to photograph a few of our long-time members’farms and dairies, and the result is nothing short of amazing."
To celebrate the historic opening, members of the surrounding communities can enter to win prizes at the Prosser and Grandview branches beginning Monday, October 27. Tuesday's Grand Opening festivities will begin at 10 a.m. at the new building with a flag, founders’monument and building dedication, ribbon-cutting, tours, and special cash giveaways. Wednesday, October 29, is "Youth Day." LVCU will waive the $5 deposit required to open a savings account, award a lunch bag or thermos for each new account opened, and continue its prizes and cash giveaways. Youth can enter to win a bicycle at each branch until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Festivities continue on Thursday with complementary hot dogs, chips, and pop, face painting, and cash giveaways. Halloween caps the week of events with numerous winners drawn at 4 p.m. for prizes including VISA cards, an iPad Mini and a new ATV.
"This building and all the accomplishments that it represents over the last 62 years, truly belong to our membership and the communities that we serve," Fonseca concluded. "All the festivities for the Grand Opening week are a fun way for us to give back and invite everyone to see their new headquarters building."
About Lower Valley Credit Union
Lower Valley Credit Union is an $80 million, Low Income Designated credit union deeply rooted in Washington State's Lower Yakima Valley. Headquartered in Sunnyside, the credit union also operates branches in Prosser and Grandview, and will open an additional Sunnyside branch on October 28, 2014. LVCU is dedicated to serving its members through a wide array of products and services, including free checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, IRAs, certificates, and more!