Fort Lewis College will receive a $200,000 grant spread out over three years from the La Plata Electric Association to help support the college’s new Geosciences, Physics & Engineering Hall.
The funds come from the LPEA’s Unclaimed Capital Credits, which CEO Mike Dreyspring said in a news release “belong to the community.”
Eyeing how the association should spend the money, he said the college was a good fit.
“Plus, from the cooperative’s standpoint, we are in need of well-trained engineers,” Dreyspring said. “Our current engineers who began college at Fort Lewis had to complete their degrees at other institutions. Now, we will literally be able to grow our own professionals and participate with the college on needs for the future.”
FLC spokesman Mitch Davis said the new Geosciences, Physics & Engineering Hall will help accommodate the increasing number of students coming to the college to study engineering. He said the new $35 million facility is set to open in fall 2016.
“This new facility will be an incredible asset to our students and to our community,” Davis said. “Companies and organizations in our area looking for exceptionally well-trained employees need look no further than their college up on the hill.”
FLC also has recently partnered with the U.S. Air Force for a new telescope.
The campus earlier this month also received a $300,000 grant to provide its physics and engineering graduates with business startup knowledge from the Telluride Foundation.
