Schools

Treasure Valley Community College career-tech remodel nears completion

Bernie Babcock, TVCC project manager, in the unfinished welding center at TVCC’s new career education building during a tour on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Once completed, the lab will have 27 welding stations. (The Enterprise/Aidan McGloin)

ONTARIO – Treasure Valley Community College’s new Career and Technical Education building is should be completed by October and open for education by January, said Bernie Babcock, project manager.

The building will have a natural resources classroom, faculty offices, a computer classroom, a small student lounge, a conference room, shower and locker rooms and a welding lab with 19 permanent and 8 portable welding stations.

Total square footage will be 29,700 ­– almost twice as large as the building it is replacing.

“It’s really nice. At the end of the day, students still have to put in as much effort whether it’s a new building not, but it’s nice to give students a top-notch training facility,” said Luke Folke, an adjunct welding instructor who earned an associate’s degree in applied welding technology at TVCC 23 years ago.

Folke toured the building with his employer, Ash Grove Cement Co., on Wednesday, Sept. 2, after the company donated $25,000 to the TVCC Foundation for the welding program.

The donation is in line with Ash Grove’s mission of “strong foundation, strong future,” said Terry Kerby, Ash Grove plant manager, who said TVCC is training the future leaders of the economy.

The project, including furnishings, will take $7 million to complete, said Dana Young, TVCC president.

Once completed, Oregon businesses can use the CTE building for training or education at no cost, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Board, said David Koehler, TVCC CTE dean.

“A facility of this magnitude is really going to change the game here,” said Cathy Yasuda, TVCC Foundation executive director.

PRIOR COVERAGE

TVCC nets big donation to boost career-tech program

Treasure Valley Community College breaks ground on career-tech project

News tip? Contact reporter Aidan McGloin at [email protected] or at 541-473-3377.

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