Senators Merkley, Wyden secure $1 million for CORE3 emergency coordination, training facility next to Redmond Airport

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden recently secured investments for essential community-initiated projects across Oregon, which included $1 million for design and engineering of the Central Oregon, Ready, Responsive, Resilient (CORE3) Project, a dedicated emergency coordination center and integrated public safety training center campus on a site adjacent to the Redmond Airport.

CORE3 will serve as a coordination and response center for first responders in the event of a major regional, statewide or larger-scale disaster. It will also provide much-needed training facilities in this area of the state for multi-agency scenario-based training.

The project is a unique partnership of 20+ local, state, and federal agencies working together to improve the resilience of our region and throughout Oregon.

This funding will leverage the federal government’s initial investment of $750,000 in congressionally directed spending in 2022, as well as local and state investments totaling just under $25 million to date.

This investment will go towards the design and engineering costs associated with Phase 1 of the project, which includes priority facilities for local public safety training and emergency response needs. Facilities within Phase 1 include emergency coordination center and flexible classrooms, an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) and drivers’ skills pad, a fire training tower, and a multi-scenario training pad.

The total project is expected to cost about $40 million and has $10 million in hand, according to Scott Aycock, community and economic development director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council

“Central Oregon’s resiliency to threats of all types depends on quality programs like CORE3,” said Senator Wyden. “With wildfires and other emergencies demanding constant attention, it's imperative the region is equipped with a trained local workforce and the essential tools to help Oregonians weather any emergency.”

“Oregon must be ready to respond to disasters when they strike, and that means investing in public safety training and boosting emergency response coordination and preparedness among all local, state, and federal agencies all in one place—exactly the mission of the CORE3 project,” noted Senator Merkley.

“From responding to devastating wildfires to preparing for the Big One, the federal funding for this critical community-initiated project that I helped secure brings us closer than ever to turning this plan into a primary hub for the Pacific Northwest that will keep countless Oregonians safe.” 

More information about the CORE3 project can be found on COIC’s website at https://core3center.org/