From Junk to Job Skills: La Junta Gives Otero College a Building—and a Big Opportunity

 ~Anne Boswell

(La Junta, CO) -- Otero College’s Construction Management program is getting a gift from the City of La Junta, a property at 322 Harriet Avenue.  City Manager Michael Hart explained in a special call meeting that it would allow the students to rehab and renovate the structure with valuable on the job skills.  When finished, Otero College would be able to sell the building to finance another project. 

“It's essentially a junk property that the city has and has had for a little while, this is an opportunity for us to get rid of a property we don’t need, a piece of property that we’ve been paying roughly $2,500 a year to maintain.” Hart said.

Partnering with the school, the council agreed, would be a good use for this building.

Council member Maureen Rikhoff mentioned other schools have done with this success.

“It’s an exciting first step in what will hopefully be a very productive cycle.”

It was asked and identified in Monday night’s meeting if the city owned other properties that could be used in a construction trades program like Otero College’s program.

A rough estimate of four other properties that the city currently owns and maintains could be used.

The resolution to convey the property to Otero College passed unanimously.

Here is a link to the construction trades education available at Otero College.

https://otero.edu/catalog/degrees-certificates/construction-trades-certificate/