Southwestern plans Curry groundbreaking celebration

Southwestern Oregon Community College is planning a groundbreaking celebration at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the future site of the new Curry County Campus north of Brookings.

The celebration is scheduled to begin with symbolic groundbreaking activities at the site, located between Milepost 353 and 354 of U.S. Highway 101 north of Brookings. A reception will follow at the Southwestern Brookings Center, 420 Alder St., in Brookings. Southwestern and Rio Tinto Minerals officials will be on hand for the celebration, along with local legislators and community and business leaders. Interested community members are invited to attend this banner event in Southwestern history.

Southwestern reached a firm agreement with Rio Tinto Minerals to gain 10 acres of land with plans to construct a new campus, which would serve as the headquarters of the College’s Curry County operations. Focus group meetings and master planning for future facilities at the site are beginning this spring with architects Crow/Clay Associates. Master planning for the new Curry County location will focus on identifying community needs for the new campus site. Current plans for the new site include a full-time practical nursing program, coursework for on-site associate degrees and additional programming to meet community needs. The College also will need to go through the land use process required by the city of Brookings.

Once the planning and land use process is completed the College plans to use $4.6 million – including $2.3 million held in escrow from Curry taxes dating back to when the county joined the College District in 1995, as well as a $2.3 million match from the Oregon Legislature. After the new campus is complete, Southwestern still plans to maintain its centers in Gold Beach and Port Orford at their current locations.

Press Release Date: May 03, 2007