Some big changes will be coming to an Oregon community college. Voters on Tuesday showed their support for Portland Community College (PCC) by voting yes on a big bond issue.

The college will renovate its workforce training facility thanks to the passing of a $185 million bond. PCC’s outreach campaign to inform the community about the bond measure involved putting up informational billboards, creating radio and television ads and sending out a mailer to 521,000 homes in the college’s district.

PCC leaders registered more than 2,300 students to vote. There were op-eds written and media endorsements were garnered, and the college shared student stories, such as this one. And leaders spoke at 12 neighborhood organizations, hosted internal and external community forums and performed hours of phone banking.

The pitch focused on connecting the bond to student success.

“The college both supports and belongs to the community. We have a responsibility to maintain PCC’s health and longevity so that we’re able to deliver equitable student success, educate our future workforce, and contribute to Oregon’s economic vigor and long-term prosperity,” said Linda Degman, PCC’s bond program director.

Other bond issues

In Ohio, voters supported a $227 million, 25-year bond measure to help Cuyahoga Community College repair and expand 50 buildings. About 67 percent of voters in the district supported the bond.

Some colleges didn’t fare as well. Alvin Community College in Texas had hoped to construct a new building and make campus upgrades, but voters narrowly rejected the college’s $48.5 million bond proposal.

A $29.5 million general obligation bond Laramie County Community College (Wyoming) also did not pass. The bond would have funded three projects: the renovation of the Fine Arts Building and construction of a performance hall, the renovation of the Recreation and Athletics Center, and the construction of a new 350-bed residence hall.

A message on the college’s website said that, despite disappointment, “we respect the decision of the Laramie County voters.”

“As always, our priority is our students, and we will continue our efforts as the best community college we can be for Laramie County,” the message concluded.

Read about how some community colleges get to “yes” on general obligation bonds in the Community College Journal.