Grand Opening for New Advanced Transportation Technology Center

ATTC site in Lebanon, Oregon.

Linn-Benton Community College will hold a Grand Opening for its new Advanced Transportation Technology Center at 2000 Oak Street in Lebanon on Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tours of the new facilities will be given after a brief program, which begins at 5:15 p.m. and is open to the public.

The center is the only major broad-spectrum training facility between Seattle and San Francisco for students learning to service alternative fuel vehicles, and will serve as a first step toward creating a base for alternative fuel technology in the Willamette Valley.

The facility has state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including a dynamometer diagnostic tool, the only one of its kind between Vancouver, BC and San Francisco.

LBCC automotive students and technicians already in the field will receive training at the center on vehicles that run on compressed natural gas, propane, electric and biodiesel as well as traditional fuel vehicles.

Future plans for the site include building a new 10,000-square-foot innovation center, and construction of compressed natural gas and propane fueling stations, and electric vehicle charging stations.

In addition, LBCC continues to raise funds to support moving its heavy equipment and diesel program to the center, with plans for a 20,000-square-foot building to be built on site for the program.

The college has raised approximately $6.7 million for the project, with more than $2 million in private donations, $1.5 million from the Economic Development Administration, $1.4 million from the City of Lebanon Urban Renewal District, $800,000 from Oregon lottery funds, $350,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust,  $170,000 from Pacific Propane Gas Association, $150,000 from the LBCC Foundation, $100,000 from the Lebanon Industrial Development Corporation, $60,000 from Consumer’s Power, NW Natural and Pacific Power, and $50,000 from Drive Oregon.

Industry partners for the ATTC project include Snap On, Pacific Power, John and Phil’s Toyota, and CoEnergy Propane of Corvallis. 

This event is co-sponsored by Northwest Natural, which is providing food and refreshments, and the LBCC Foundation. For more information, contact the LBCC Foundation office at 541-917-4209.