The Linn-Benton Community College Foundation has received the largest single private gift in the 45-year history of the college from an anonymous donor.
The $2 million dollar donation is to be used as a matching gift to support the construction and development of LBCC’s new Advanced Transportation Technology Center.
LBCC finalized the purchase of an 11-acre site in Lebanon last week that will become home to its auto and diesel programs, and allow space to add hands-on training on alternative fuel technologies.
The Lebanon site is the former home of PACE Manufacturing, and includes a 35,000-square-foot industrial building.
The gift, in addition to support from the Lebanon Urban Renewal District, the Lebanon Industrial Development Council, and state lottery funds, brings money raised for the project to $4.3 million. The total cost of opening the center is estimated at $6.85 million.
Plans call for the ATTC to provide training that involves applications, development and adoption of alternative energy in biofuels, electric vehicles, compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, hydrogen, hybrid, and new technologies in addition to industry-specific and contracted training for people already in the auto and diesel mechanics field, and first-responder training to enable them to respond safely to incidents involving alternative fuel vehicles.
When the auto and diesel programs move from their current homes on the Albany campus, the project will also create room to expand programs in welding, machine tool technology and mechatronics.