PHILOMATH, Ore. — The historic College of Philomath is able to complete a historically accurate entryway and is one step closer to being placed in the National Register of Historic Places, thanks in part to support from the Pacific Power Foundation. The foundation provided a $2,500 grant to the College of Philomath Community Corporation to help fund renovations to the entryway portion of the building.

The foundation’s grant will help the College of Philomath Community Corporation complete a historically accurate front stairway, entryway and portico at the building and will enable the corporation to complete and submit an application for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

Entryway work is part of a larger renovation project underway to prepare the facility to be used by the community as a nonprofit senior center and a preschool. It will include a kitchen for preparing hot meals and space for seniors to attend classes and receive medical screening and other services.

“We are proud to help bring the College of Philomath’s building one step closer to restoration and local historic preservation interests,” said Doris Johnston, regional community manager for Pacific Power.

“The College of Philomath is an important part of Philomath’s history,” said Scott Ramsey, president of the College of Philomath Community Corporation. “The renovation will provide both short- and long-term benefits. It will allow us to complete the exterior work on the front façade needed to attain national register status. Acceptance into the national register will, in turn, allow the project to qualify for additional financial resources to complete exterior renovations on the rest of the building.”

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About College of Philomath Community Corporation

The College of Philomath CommunityCorporation was created by a group of volunteers whocame together because they saw a need to save an important historical icon for the community and secure permanent locations for much needed community resources. As CPCC planned for sustainability and maintenance of the building, the group added a management role to its mission. CPCC is commited to not only renovating the building, but also supporting the nonprofit tenants through fund raising and below-market-value rent. These steps were taken to ensure the building becomes and continues to be a vital educational and cultural resource for the community. CPCC was formed in November 2003, obtained a mortgage to purchase the building in summer 2004 and received federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in February 2006.  

About the Pacific Power Foundation

ThePacific Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation, one of the largest utility-endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created in 1988 by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving 1.7 million customers in six Western states as Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California ) and Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho). The foundation's mission, through charitable investments, is to support growth and vitality of the communities served by Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power. For more information, visit www.pacificpower.net/ppfoundation .