College to Celebrate First-Ever East County Center with Ribbon Cutting Sept. 11
Public invited to Toledo campus for celebration featuring free burgers and hot dogs
TOLEDO — Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) will celebrate the opening of its first-ever East County Center with a public ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, Sept. 11, from noon to 1 p.m., at the former Arcadia School building in Toledo.
The public is invited to join OCCC staff, faculty and community partners for the celebration. OCCC staff will be serving burgers and hot dogs while they last.
For most of its 40-year history, OCCC has served the Oregon coast through locations in Waldport (South County), Newport (Central County) and Lincoln City (North County). The new East County Center marks the College’s first permanent presence in Toledo, made possible through an exceptional partnership with the Lincoln County School District and Superintendent Dr. Majalise Tolan.
“We are so pleased that OCCC reached out to use the Arcadia building to support post-secondary education in Toledo,” Tolan said. “Our ability to partner with Oregon Coast Community College allows both institutions to pool resources to provide even more opportunities for a strong Pre-K-to-college experience in Lincoln County.”
The Arcadia School building saw its last regular instructional use during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Lincoln County School District teachers used the facility to stream online class content and hybrid opportunities to students primarily learning from home. Its transformation into a community college center gives the building new life serving East County students and residents.
As visitors will see on Sept. 11, OCCC is still actively working on furnishings and outfitting classroom spaces with equipment ahead of the coming term. Classes are already scheduled to begin this fall, including Math for Welders and an introductory lineup of Community Education offerings.
Future offerings at the East County Center will be shaped by community interest and may include basic skills courses such as GED preparation and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), traditional credit courses in subjects like Writing, Mathematics and History for degree- and certificate-seeking students, and additional Community Education and Small Business Development Center workshops, classes and events.
“Dr. Tolan’s creative solution to finding the highest and best use of District resources exemplifies the kind of partnership that strengthens our entire community,” said Dr. Marshall Mease Roache, OCCC President. “Turning this building into an East County home for higher education means more of our neighbors in Toledo, Siletz, and Eddyville will have a college location closer to home — and that’s exactly the kind of collaboration that moves our region forward.”
Event Details
What: East County Center Ribbon Cutting Celebration
When: Friday, Sept. 11, noon to 1 p.m.
Where: OCCC East County Center, former Arcadia School, 1811 NE Arcadia Dr., Toledo
Details: Free burgers and hot dogs served while they last