FARM II needs $3.5 million
By Terry Murry on Friday, August 13th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The sponsors of FARM II, which would include classrooms and an indoor arena on land near the Pendleton Convention Center, are working hard to make up an unanticipated shortfall in state funding. The project is supported by Blue Mountain Community College, the city of Pendleton, the Port of Umatilla, Umatilla County, and the Pendleton Round-Up.
Originally, FARM II was fully funded by the Oregon Legislature. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, lottery profits sank, and the funding was not available. That meant its supporters had to start from square one in attempting to get $13 million restored to the project.
“We thought we had it in the bag until the very last minute, and then what happened was we got the $6.5 million in 11G bonds reauthorized, but we only got $3 million from American Rescue Plan Act dollars, leaving us $3.5 million short,” Pendleton Mayor John Turner said.
The supporters of FARM II are not giving up.
“The governor has indicated that she’s willing to work with us on this, and Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) is deeply involved in trying to get the other $3.5 million dollars,” Turner said.
