KITTANNING — The Belmont Complex is receiving a major facelift.

Through federal, state and local grants, the ice rink facility is completing a renovation project costing nearly $4 million.

“The initial phase of this plan dates back to 2009,” Belmont Complex director Gary Montebell said. “We’ve been making steady improvements ever since.”

A new dasher board system was put in for hockey last year. The latest phase of renovations — under way since last spring — are nearing completion and include a new entrance, ticket booth, restrooms, ADA accessible ramp, warm room, skate shop, concession and locker room.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the facility’s new look took place Tuesday.

Freeport and Armstrong high schools play their home hockey games at the Belmont. The Armstrong Amateur Hockey League — a 13-team circuit for ages 5-19 — uses the facility as well, as do three girls hockey programs.

“There’s a lot of (hockey) traffic through the locker rooms, so there was a need to upgrade them,” Montebell said. “Four of the six locker rooms have been upgraded. We were over budget, so the other two aren’t renovated yet.

“That work will get done. With the increase of girls hockey here, we need all of those locker rooms.”

More funding may come from acquired naming rights for the Belmont. A five-year contract is available for $200,000 to rename the facility, “but we have no one in place right now” to take that deal, Montebell said.

“We hope to attract a little more hockey here, but our ice time is pretty booked,” he said. “The upgrade here was needed. This is a 50-year-old facility.”

The Belmont Complex has existed since 1967.

The Belmont Complex will host a grand re-opening event for community members Saturday. It will begin with an amateur league hockey game at 3 p.m., followed by a Learn to Play Hockey program scrimmage, Belmont Blaze figure skating performance and an extended public ice skating session at 6:30 p.m.