Heart of Oregon Corps, a nonprofit that empowers youth through employment, job training and education, announced that it closed a deal on a site for a central campus in Redmond. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the organization launched a campaign, Legacy 25, to raise the remaining funds needed to build a regional youth workforce development campus on the site, according to a press release.
After years of borrowing service spaces, the central campus will offer a set location for HOC’s development trainings in construction, land conservation and child care.
The new campus, estimated to cost around $7.3 million, will include several buildings and services to support youth receiving specialized training, completing school and transitioning to a career.
It will offer classrooms, offices and meeting spaces, a 14,000-square-foot warehouse for workshops and trainings, and a courtyard to gather for events or studying, among other amenities.
“This campus is where underserved youth and young adults will transform their lives through training, certifications and direct support,” said Laura Handy, executive director of Heart of Oregon Corps, in a press release. “After 25 years, we know this model works — for youth, for employers and for progress on regional issues. We just need the room to accommodate the growth in demand for our programs, and this campus is the visionary answer that will support this work for generations to come.”
HOC works with youth through offering job training, support to earn a high school diploma or a GED and practical experience in a variety of skills. The organization supports over 200 young people from ages 16 to 25 each year.
Some of HOC’s programs include opportunities for youth to maintain trails, complete conservation projects on public lands, do fire fuel reduction work, build affordable housing, work with children and more.
“We’re thrilled that this campus will be sited in Redmond,” Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch said in a press release. “Our community members believe in the value of hard work, and we know how critical youth workforce development is to building a strong economy where everyone can thrive. We are proud that Redmond will serve as the hub and backdrop to the life-changing education of these young people.”
This article appears in The Source Weekly February 27, 2025.
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