A centrifugal blower assembly includes a housing defining an interior space and an impeller configured to channel an airflow within the interior space. The blower assembly also includes a motor coupled to the impeller and configured to rotate the impeller about an axis. The motor includes a motor shell and a motor mounting assembly coupled to the motor. The motor mounting assembly includes an end shield coupled to the motor and a plurality of mounting arms coupled to the end shield. At least a portion of at least one mounting arm extends axially along the motor such that a continuous radial gap is defined between the at least one mounting arm and the motor shell.