FARM II will remain on schedule
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, July 11th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Oregon Legislature did not include supplemental funding to account for inflation for the construction of Blue Mountain Community College’s FARM II. President Mark Browning said the college will try again for funding in the 2024 session.
“If that doesn’t come through, then we’ll sit down as partners with the Round-Up Foundation, the city, the convention center, and everybody else who is involved and say, ‘How do we move forward and how do we address this need,’” he said.
Browning said the setback will not delay breaking ground for the core structure, which will include classrooms and an indoor rodeo arena. The steel has already been ordered for the core structure and work will start right after Round-Up, which ends on Sept. 16.
He said problems arise with the failed funding effort outside the building.
“There is a very significant need for stalls on the outside of the facility to help house animals that will be a part of the events that will be housed in the facility,” he said. “We’ll have another crack at it in the short session next year.”
