LBCC receives $2 million, the largest private gift in its history

Future site of the Advanced Transportation
Technology Center in Lebanon

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. These include compressed natural gas, propane, biofuel, hydrogen fuel cell, and electric and hybrid technologies. The Lebanon site is the former home of PACE Manufacturing, and includes a 35,000-square-foot industrial building.

“We are humbled and very grateful for this historic contribution,” said LBCC President Greg Hamann. “Our donor was clear that this gift serves as an inspiration for others to support the college, and this contribution will help stimulate the support of others.”

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.

While the anonymous contribution is designated to support the development of the ATTC, it coincides with planning efforts to significantly increase private fundraising in the LBCC Foundation, according to Foundation Executive Director Dale Stowell. Money would support initiatives at LBCC to help greater numbers of its students complete degree and certificate programs that lead directly to jobs and the ability to participate in and contribute to the community.

“This gift is a perfect example of what we need to do as a community,” Stowell said. “Because of it, we’ll be able to expand programs where we have students on waiting lists on one side and jobs waiting to be filled on the other. The students in this program will have clear goals, and that is a key to making sure they finish what they start. It supports both students and our communities.”

The center will also mean this region will be able to build the infrastructure to support alternative fuel technology, which could significantly reduce costs for businesses that provide on or rely on transportation, Hamann added.

Plans call for the ATTC to provide training that involves applications, development and adoption of alternative energy in biofuels, electric vehicles, compressed national 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.