Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC buys land on Swan Island for possible trade school

Photos and story by Gina Whitehill-Baziuk

Portland Community College’s bid to purchase almost 5 acres of industrial land on Swan Island has been accepted and the details are being worked through. The site could become a jobs training center in the heart of Portland’s industrial east side.

The land is owned by the state of Oregon as a site to store, repair and wash state-owned vehicles. The state put the site on a list of surplus lands intended for sale.

“This is a strategic opportunity for PCC to serve the trades education needs of the region,” said Preston Pulliams, PCC president. “We need to put together a long-term look at how best we can use the site, how it best helps the industrial businesses on Swan Island and how it meets the needs of the city of Portland.”

The 4.89-acre site at 6400 Cutter Circle is zoned by the city for industrial use. Under that zoning, a trade school could be a permitted use.

“We look forward to working with the city and the business community,” Pulliams said. “Obviously, we want to be a good neighbor.”

The sentiment was echoed by Alan Sprott, vice president for Vigor Industrial. “Everybody here who has been involved with PCC is really excited to have the college down here and the possibility of this trade school,” he said. “We see this as a great opportunity for Portland businesses to increase the capability of the workforce and to be more competitive.”

PCC already teaches welding at Vigor Industrial on Swan Island. The new site could allow for an expansion of that popular program with long waiting lists.

“As we emerge from the recession, we need to explore all options for industrial-skill job training,” Pulliams said. “Preserving and creating family-wage jobs is vital for the region.”

Expanding career technical training opportunities throughout the district was a key element of the college’s successful 2008 bond measure.