Redmond, Oregon – A $400,000 anonymous donation marked the final milestone in Heart of Oregon Corps’ five‑year Legacy 25 campaign, bringing the total raised to more than $8 million. The funds secured a new 3.4‑acre youth workforce development campus at Highway 126 and Southeast 9th Street, expanding the nonprofit’s capacity to train young people ages 16‑24 in Central Oregon.
Campus features and green energy
The 6,600‑square‑foot campus center houses classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, showers and laundry facilities. Adjacent is a 14,000‑square‑foot training warehouse for hands‑on workshops and six equipment bays totaling 10,000 sq ft for wood chippers, trailers and other tools. Renewable‑energy infrastructure includes 88 solar panels, 12 electric‑vehicle chargers and battery storage, funded by $420,000 in state renewable‑energy grants and Energy Trust of Oregon incentives. The system is projected to save the organization $320,000 in power costs over its lifespan.
Community support and impact
Executive Director Laura Handy praised the broad community backing that made the project possible. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the ways in which community members have shown up in support of Heart of Oregon, our youth participants and the future of our programs,” Handy said. “Our community’s need for a stronger workforce pipeline outpaced our capacity in aging and borrowed facilities—and the community understood this.”
Development Director Leanna Aper, a Redmond native, echoed the sentiment, noting how the new campus will “prepare young people for their futures for generations to come.” The nonprofit provides job training, GED support and industry certifications, while also involving participants in conservation projects, affordable‑housing construction and child‑care services.
Funding journey
The Legacy 25 campaign launched in 2021 with a $2 million grant from the State of Oregon. Over the next five years, more than 420 individuals, businesses and foundations contributed, allowing the campaign to finish within 2 % of its budget and without incurring debt. The effort overcame site‑acquisition hurdles, rising construction costs and the loss of a potential $1 million federal appropriation in 2025.
Upcoming events
Heart of Oregon Corps will showcase the new campus at the Endless Summer Nights street fair on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Bend Park and Float. A public grand opening and ribbon‑cutting ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 30 at 11 a.m.
Additional campaign proceeds will be directed toward facility maintenance, electric‑vehicle fleet upgrades and ongoing youth programming, ensuring the campus remains a lasting resource for Redmond’s workforce pipeline.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
