Clackamas Community College Announces New Facility

OREGON CITY, OR – Clackamas Community College is expected to break ground on a new career technical education center early next month.

CCC officials will ceremoniously welcome the first stages of construction on the Industrial Technical Center (ITC), a $28 million building project that officials say will increase access to affordable career education programs, at 4 p.m. April 7.

By hosting manufacturing, renewable energy, machining and other in-demand career technical education programs, the new facility will provide training for family-wage jobs and/or pave the way to transfer to a four-year university, officials said. The project is slated for completion spring 2018.

"Students at the ITC will learn from industry-knowledgeable instructors on modern equipment in a state-of-the art facility," said Cynthia Risan, dean of technology, applied science and public services for CCC. "Upon completion of their study, our students will be fully trained and ready to work."

Voters in Clackamas County approved a $90 million bond measure November 2014 to cover funding for much of the project, while the state will contribute $8 million in matching funds for the 44,000-square-foot building.

The facility itself, officials said, will include large bays for machinery, classrooms and offices, and space for the possible later-construction of an additional building on the campus' east side. The project also includes plans to redesign the adjacent parking lot to improve pedestrian access and connect to the pedestrian path to Oregon City High School.

Coinciding with the ITC groundbreaking is the launch of the Oregon City Beavercreek Employment Area "Putting Education to Work" campaign, which economic development officials estimate could create 1,650 jobs once the project is completed.

Looking at roughly 80 acres of developable industrial land next to the ITC construction area, the Beavercreek Employment Area would complement the ITC by having in place employment opportunities for students graduating from ITC programs as well as established professionals living in the Oregon City area.

At the groundbreaking, city economic development officials will announce the campaign to begin marketing the property to potential industrial developers.

"The Beavercreek Employment Area is poised to become a hub for Clackamas County's advanced manufacturing and advanced technology industry clusters," said Catherine Grubowski-Johnson, business and economic development manager for Clackamas County. "Businesses that locate adjacent to Clackamas Community College's modern training facility will benefit from a pipeline of skilled workers for their current and future demands."

Through the campaign, the multi-leveled partnership between CCC, Clackamas County, the city of Oregon City, and the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce hopes to attract business and industry to Oregon City, and provide a local workforce benefitting the whole county economy.

"Education, business and local government are actively engaged in a three-way, collaborative initiative to develop and market the Beavercreek Employment Area," said Oregon City Chamber Executive Director Amber Holveck. "This will become an economic game-changer because soon, manufacturing and technology will be able to relocate or expand operations onto property adjacent to modern education and training resources through Clackamas Community College's new Industrial Technical Center."

Photo Courtesy: Industrial Technical Center concept image provided by Clackamas Community College.