DAVENPORT, Iowa — 2016 has been a big year for Republic, an independent, third-generation family-owned electrical, mechanical, and energy management distributor in the Quad Cities with branches in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, Iowa, and Peoria, Illinois. On Sept. 22nd, Republic commemorated 100 years in business with a grand celebration at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois.

Approximately 650 vendors, employees, and community leaders enjoyed live music and short presentations showcased the company’s history with dramatic videos and memorable stories of the past. A capstone of the evening was the presentation of a $40,608 check to the Handicapped Development Center (HDC) to create the J.S. Kimmel Technology Training Center. Republic capitalized on its 100th anniversary to encourage the community at large to contribute to the creation of this much-needed resource for the HDC, a local Davenport organization that Republic’s founder, J.S. Kimmel Sr., helped to create. Altogether, more than 130 individuals and businesses contributed to the cause.

In addition to raising money for this charity, Republic will also give away furnaces in its “Give Warmth” program. The company is partnering with the Salvation Army, Johnson Controls Inc., and local York and Luxaire dealers to provide and install up to 25 furnaces for needy members of the communities it serves.

Company president, Mark Kilmer, recognized the importance of the milestone and stated, “We are truly humbled by the great response and the wonderful support from our customers and our vendor partners. It will certainly be a night to remember in our company’s proud history.”

Square D by Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls Inc. — representing both the York and Luxaire brands — and 24 other vendors/partners participated at various levels in support of this once-a-century celebration.

Publication date: 12/26/2016

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