In 2018, a group of representatives from Cottage Grove asked Lane Community College to partner with various stakeholders to use approximately half of the Cottage Grove Center to house a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The vision was for this site to offer much needed health care, dental care, and behavioral health to the residents of Southern Lane County while providing opportunities for allied health students to study and work in their community. The plan includes a redesign of seamless, stackable, allied health offerings for students high school through college. A consultant, Margot Helphand, was hired in January 2020 to facilitate the partners in making this vision a reality.
In April 2020, the LCC Board of Education approved the President to enter into an agreement with Lane County for the County to lease space in the Cottage Grove Center for a FQHC. Those negotiations remain in progress. Bond dollars were used to repair the roof and HVAC system while donor dollars were used for renovation of approximately half of the Cottage Grove building. The remaining half of the building will provide allied health and continuing education training planned for this building. The County oversaw construction of the renovation and will manage all operation of the FQHC. A lease agreement is intended to provide sustainable revenue to the College.