COCC receives $500K grant for Madras Campus

On the heels of the June 17 groundbreaking ceremony, and with construction beginning, Central Oregon Community College’s Madras campus transformation made another major stride with the announcement that the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust would be awarding a $500,000 grant to COCC’s “Growing Together” capital campaign.

The grant supports the portion of the facility that will house COCC’s nursing, certified nursing assistant and medical assistant programs on the Madras campus expansion.

The campus extension is helping bring a new training center and community childcare to Jefferson County, with a grand opening anticipated by winter of 2025.

The capital campaign is supporting COCC’s development of a 24,000-square-foot building designed for early childhood education programs, registered nurse and other health career pathways, and a 100-capacity childcare center to serve the community.

“This is a stunning investment in the communities and future of Jefferson County. ‘Growing Together’ is truly a campaign centered on partnership, and we are immeasurably grateful to the Murdock Trust for theirs.” said Dr. Laurie Chesley, president of COCC.

The in-demand educational training and much-needed childcare resources are expected to address significant community gaps for the growing rural area. A 2022 study from Portland State University estimates a “relatively robust” growth rate for Jefferson County, where a two-year waitlist for childcare is not uncommon and recruiting health care workers has been a challenge.

The Oregon Employment Department projects that the health services and education sectors — which combine to make the third-largest employment category in Madras — are expected to surge by 26% between 2021-31 across Central Oregon.

Fundraising for the $22 million campaign — coming from both public and private sources — began in 2022.