LC State Campus

News Release

Idaho Forest Group donates $50,000 to Schweitzer CTE Center at LC State

LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College has received a $50,000 donation from Idaho Forest Group (IFG) for naming rights for two industrial electronics classrooms on the main level of the college’s new Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center, LC State officials have announced.

The Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center, which is currently under construction in the Lewiston Orchards, will be a regional CTE center, serving the needs of students from LC State, neighboring Lewiston High School, and others throughout the region. The facility will house most of LC State’s Technical & Industrial Division programs including auto mechanics technology, CNC machining technology, information technology, engineering technology, industrial electronics technology, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology. 

Construction on the CTE center began last spring and is expected to be wrapped up in time for the start of the 2020 fall semester.

Idaho Forest Group is one of the largest lumber producers in the United States. The family-owned business has headquarters in Coeur d’Alene and operates six sawmills and a finger-joint facility with operations in northern Idaho, including Lewiston, and Montana. IFG was formed in 2008 when Bennett Forest Industries and Riley Creek Lumber merged and has roots dating back to 1934 when Guy Bennett began his lumber career.

IFG’s mission is to enhance the lives of livelihoods of its employees, customers, partners and the communities where they operate.

In 2017, the Idaho Legislature approved the CTE building project and appropriated $10 million with the requirement that LC State match the funds. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories donated $2 million to the project, while SEL founder Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, and his wife Beatriz donated another $1 million. In all, donations like IFG’s have helped generate more than $6 million towards the CTE center.

To make a donation to the Schweitzer CTE Center or to learn more about naming opportunities visit: www.lcsc.edu/giving.

Note: In photo above, LC State President Dr. Cynthia Pemberton thanks Brett Madron, Idaho Forest Group Plant Supervisor in Lewiston, for the donation.