This content was published: August 24, 2009. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Funds from state Legislature spur renovation at PCC
Photos and story by James Hill
Renovation of Parking Lot 7 at the Sylvania Campus, thanks to funds from the Oregon Legislature for deferred maintenance. (Photo by Dana Haynes)
In February, as Oregon’s unemployment rate rose quickly, the Legislature passed a bill providing $53.28 million in state lottery bonds and matching bonds for deferred maintenance projects on all 17 community colleges. The rule: All jobs had to be created by the end of April.
The bill includes $6.4 million for PCC, which the college matched.
By May, it became clear that the community colleges were doing better, in terms of creating jobs quickly, than other state agencies. And more of the community college projects revolved around environmentally friendly or “green” jobs.
According to the Oregon Community College Association, community colleges created 787 jobs through this bill, with 94 percent of them filled by Oregon residents, and 94 percent using Oregon product, vendors or contractors.
Before the Legislature adjourned, community colleges received praise from both chambers and both sides of the aisle for creating jobs quickly and for a stellar reporting process.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »