After 25 years of youth and young adult programming in Central Oregon, this fall Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC) will be opening a new central campus in Redmond. HOC serves youth from Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, and Klamath Counties with more than 65% from rural areas outside of Bend, the region’s largest city. Because of this dispersed service area, HOC plans on maintaining many satellite offices after the completion of the Redmond campus.
HOC’s program work varies and participants are intentionally placed based on their interests and location. “I like to sum our programs up by saying that they are empowering young people through workforce development and education,” says HOC Development Director Leanna Williams. “So our young people are earning wages and stipends while they work on projects that benefit the Central Oregon Community.” Examples of program work include building affordable housing; reducing wildfire fuels; increasing access to food (in Jefferson County); and providing childcare for local families. “Across all of our programs, the work that they’re doing is in response to community needs, while empowering local youth to be the change makers.”
The funding campaign for the new campus has a target of $7.3 million and has had significant support—they are currently 92 percent to goal—including an early capital grant from Roundhouse Foundation. The new site is 3.4 acres located off highway 126 on the east side of Redmond. It includes two existing buildings, which HOC purchased from Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon, and a new campus center that will have participant classrooms and meeting spaces, showers, and a laundry facility for program participants. One of the existing buildings, a warehouse, will continue to host construction training and skills workshops and store large equipment.
“The new Central Campus will amplify our impact, transforming lives and strengthening the entire community,” says HOC Executive Director Laura Handy. The ribbon cutting ceremony is set for September 30, 2026.
