Linn-Benton Community College

As part of a legislative effort to support statewide economic development and clean environment, the Advanced Transportation Technology Center at Linn-Benton Community College received $1.5 million in Oregon’s adopted state budget. The funding was an economic development allocation that came from outside the higher education budget. It will help build and equip phases II and III of the center, which will include space to provide training in alternative fuel vehicles for mechanics already working, as well as a new home for the heavy equipment/diesel technology program. The initial idea to advance the state’s economic development goals via support of the ATTC came from the Governor’s office, which included it in the Business Oregon budget. When it was cut from the budget, a bipartisan coalition of 21 State Representatives petitioned the budget co-chairs to include it elsewhere. State senators from throughout Oregon also helped with the effort. “We’ve received interest and support...

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 ...