Six months after an EF-3 tornado nearly leveled the Lennox plant in Marshalltown, corporate officials are still quiet about its rebuilding efforts.

On July 24, the company announced through Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer it would rebuild its facilities destroyed by the tornado that tore through the city. In the days between the July 19 storm and the announcement, some employees and residents were scared the company would not rebuild because an immediate decision wasn’t issued. 

As one of the largest employers in town, the question weighed heavy on community and state leaders. Gov. Kim Reynolds met with Doug Young, president and COO of Lennox International, where he informed her of the company’s commitment to rebuilding. 

Direct communication with local media about the business’s recovery has not occurred. A corporate spokesperson declined multiple requests with the Times-Republican ahead of today’s six-month anniversary.

“In talking with the team we’ll pass on participating at this time,” spokesperson Phil Gee said in an email. 

Efforts to reach Lennox corporate officials through the Marshalltown Regional Partnership were also met unsuccessfully.

In late July, the company announced in a news release its donation of $500,000 to Marshalltown recovery. 

Gee spoke with the T-R in early August about temporarily moving some of the administrative offices to the Iowa Valley Continuing Education facility and the Marshalltown Mall. In the months since calls and emails for interviews have been declined. Inquiries made to local Lennox leaders were referred to the corporate office, a common practice with many large businesses.  

In an August statement, the company announced in a news release it would sustain $100 million in lost revenue as a result of the damage to the Marshalltown plant. A company announcement in December said insurance proceeds would cover tornado losses. The insurance money will cover site clean-up costs, asset write-offs, lost profits and the cost and timing to rebuild the manufacturing facility while repairing or replacing the necessary manufacturing equipment, according to the statement.

It’s unclear whether all employees are back to work or what the rebuild timeline is. A “now hiring” sign hangs on a fence surrounding the plant and an employee information website said all employees would be hearing from human resources about returning to work. 

Lennox was founded in Marshalltown 124 years ago. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and is a manufacturer of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration products, among others.