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An economically distressed community in Southern Oregon now boasts a new, $6.2 million wine-making facility and education center, in large part because of local donations.

The unemployment rate in Douglas County in the third quarter of 2011 was highest in the state, at 11.6 percent. But is gearing up for the grand opening of the Danny Lang Teaching, Learning and Event Center 鈥� the first significant construction on the Roseburg campus in decades.

鈥淎s everyone knows, especially in our region, this has been one of the most difficult economic times in terms of unemployment in Southern Oregon,鈥� said Dennis O’Neill, executive director of the UCC Foundation. 鈥淎nd in the face of that, we went out and did this campaign.鈥�

For six months, O’Neill and other foundation representatives traveled throughout hard-hit southern counties seeking donations for the project, which will house UCC’s Southern Oregon Wine Institute. The group, which often opened its fundraising presentations citing the Charles Dickens line 鈥淚t was the best of times, it was the worst of times,鈥� brought in $2.5 million from 221 donors.

鈥淚 was very impressed,鈥� said Eric Wilcox, an associate at architecture firm . 鈥淭he economy in Roseburg really slumped compared to a lot of the state, but it’s a really hands-on community down there, and now their name is all over that building.鈥�

Recognizing that a large portion of the construction money came from the community, Wilcox and the general contractor, , tried to economize as much as possible.

鈥淲e didn’t want to be perceived as spending money frivolously on high-end items,鈥� said Russ Noah, owner of the Roseburg-based general contracting company. 鈥淲e were buying more on value rather than the showy kind of stuff. Aesthetics did matter, but the reality is that everything they bought has good value to it.鈥�

The team cut out horizontal precast details from the plans, rearranged electrical infrastructure and switched out some light fixtures. Those measures led to a $1.2 million reduction from the original cost estimate for construction.

One major material in the new center 鈥� wood 鈥� was chosen not because of cost savings, but because of its significance in the local economy. The 24,000-square-foot facility is a heavy timber and wood frame building, even though a steel frame would have been more efficient and possibly cost less, according to Wilcox.

鈥淒ouglas County is very close to the timber industry, and the use of wood in the architecture and construction is just magnificent,鈥� said Bentley Gilbert, community relations director for UCC. 鈥淭he public is very eager to get into the new building; people want to put their arms around it.鈥�

Local residents closely followed the construction process, which began last September 鈥� especially because local businesses often were engaged as partners. Nearly 90 percent of the construction money was spent in Douglas County on local wood and other products, according to O’Neill.

UCC also received $4.25 million in federal stimulus bonds to pay for the center, which includes classrooms, labs, an event center and a tasting room that is open to the public.

Oregon’s wine industry is growing rapidly 鈥� grape production and wine-making has doubled over the past four years, according to O’Neill. The Southern Oregon Wine Institute offers a one-year certificate program in viticulture and enology and a two-year associate degree program in applied science.

The primary challenge during the fundraising campaign came from community members who questioned whether money should be invested in new construction amid economic strife. But O’Neill and the UCC Foundation responded with a message of hope that resonated in many Southern Oregon communities.

鈥淚f you live in rural Oregon, you know you cannot sit down and wait for someone to come and help you during these very painful economic times 鈥� that’s a hopeless place to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to do it ourselves, and that’s what we did.鈥�