Wine production training program starts expansion

State stimulus money helped buoy a $1.4 million Chemeketa Community College project.

Chemeketa officials and dignitaries broke ground Monday on an expansion of the Eola facilities that house the school's Northwest Viticulture Center — the only viticulture center in the state. The Viticulture Center shelters Chemeketa's Vineyard Management and Winemaking Program.

The remodel of an existing building and construction of a new one were kicked off at the ceremony, and the project is planned to be finished fall term, said Greg Harris, Chemeketa associate dean of public information, marketing and student recruitment.

About $700,000 in state stimulus money, a $165,000 grant from the Erath Foundation and $535,000 in Chemeketa construction funds support the $1.4 million project, Harris said.

"The money we provided in the stimulus package was being used for what we intended and that was shovel-ready projects," said Sen. Jackie Winter, R-Salem after the event. "And, one of the things that we said was we wanted to make sure we got the money and got it out into the community as quickly as possible."

The Vineyard Management and Winemaking Program launched in 1999 because of requests from Oregon wine grape industry leaders for a better-trained work force, Harris said.

The construction project won't necessarily increase the number of students in the program but could affect quality, he said.

"These enhancements will improve the effectiveness of our teaching and result in more complete training of future winemakers," said Craig Anderson, the director of the Northwest Viticulture Center.

The project includes a 3,460-square-foot new building to add a laboratory, classroom, faculty offices and an improved library/resource room.

Remodeling of an existing building on site is slated to include:

-Adding 756 square feet to the main floor to increase catering capacity and

-Renovating an empty space in the basement to create 1,230 square feet of cold storage for wine to age.

Vineyard Management and Winemaking Program adds 10 workers a year to the grape and wine industry, Harris said. Program curricula include all aspects of the industry — from growing grapes to selling wine.