New building promises new educational training and resources BBCC students, staff and community celebrate

MOSES LAKE — When student Cherie Flint arrived at Big Bend Community College on Monday for class, she couldn't help but anticipate seeing the completed Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center.

"My first thought was 'Is it open yet?' Can I really go see what's inside,?"' Flint said.

Remembering back when ATEC was in its initial construction stages, which began in 2003, Flint knows that her educational experience and that of other students at BBCC will not be the same now that the Center is complete.

ATEC provides more space for students to study and come together with peers in a way that the campus lacked before Flint said. "(ATEC) will provide a quality school experience and I am glad that our community agreed to do this…it's nice to see something come alive."

And from ATEC's beginnings, which were first envisioned in 1996 during a proposed remodel of the previous library facility that was used as a mess hall for the former Larson Air Force base, today has evolved into a facility that BBCC administrators and the community expect to help sustain educational and economic growth in the years to come.

"The vision for ATEC now and in the future is to serve more of the residents in the college district which means being able to reach out and accommodate more people on campus," said BBCC President Bill Bonaudi. "ATEC allows us to reach that vision."

Today, the $15 million ATEC building is complete with a state-of-the-art dining facility that features a full-service restaurant style kitchen, including catering options; conference center and training rooms which can be divided into four sections for separate events such as business meetings or catered events; and new library facility that is three times larger than the previous one and houses 10 study rooms as well as lab rooms and wireless network access. The Paul Lauzier University Center which provides additional office and classroom space where local students will be able to earn baccalaureate and graduate degrees from institutions such as Heritage University and Central Washington University; and the Eric and Catherine Peterson Gallery that serves as a display area for artwork.

Terry Brewer, executive director with the Grant County Economic Development Council, said that from an economic standpoint ATEC offers further opportunity to ensure that the current and future labor force has the necessary skills to be competitive.

"It is vital to have a well educated and skilled work force for existing as well as potential companies that want to do business here and if the local work force does not meet the needs of the modern workplace we will be overlooked or left behind," Brewer said. "Without facilities available such as ATEC it can be very difficult for people to get the training and skills they need."

That is exactly why Suzy Ames, director of communication with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, an organization that allocates funding for projects such as ATEC, said the Center made it on the list of state funded projects despite an announcement by Gov. Gary Locke's top budget official in 2001 that funding for capital projects would be stopped due to the state's inability to pay off construction bonds.

The state board recognized the significance of the ATEC project and understood the potential impact it could have on the surrounding communities, Ames said.

Despite complications with state funding, other donations from businesses, private and county contributions helped to raise $7.5 million of the total cost to complete ATEC - an effort by the local community that Bonaudi said is "a remarkable achievement."

In the fall of 2004 BBCC kicked off its "Finish the Job" campaign to raise $500,000 for technology equipment inside ATEC of which all but $150,000 has been fund-raised said Big Bend Foundation Executive Director Doug Sly. High goals have been set and BBCC is "grateful for all of the support," Sly said.

Already, organizations such as the Washington State Potato Commission that is scheduled to use the ATEC facility for the 2005 Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show in February, say they are excited about the capabilities the Center offers.

Having the trade show at ATEC will centralize the event's activities into one location and allow for guest speakers and visitors who will be coming as far away as Israel and Canada to see some of the resources available in our community said Karen Bonaudi, assistant executive director of the WSPC.

"ATEC is as fine of a facility that could be found anywhere else in the state among community and technical colleges, and will rival almost any facility that four-year institutions have," said BBCC President Bill Bonaudi.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of ATEC is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 2 p.m.