At April's WEA Breakfast Forum, OHSU President Joe Robertson, MD, MBA shared the next step in OHSU's fight against cancer, and this week the organization took that step in a ground breaking ceremony for the Knight Cancer Institute research building.

   The state of Oregon is funding the building of the $160 million, 320,000 square foot research facility , which will be constructed north of the Collaborative Life Sciences Building on Portland's South Waterfront.

   "We are grateful for the state's investment in our mission to end cancer as we know it, and we look forward to celebrating the scientific achievements that will take place within these walls," said  Brian Druker, M.D. ,director of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.

   The Knight Cancer Institute research building will house a myriad of research programs focused on early cancer detection.
   It also will include administrative offices, a conference center and street-level retail space.

    The building's design principles of team science and collaboration are evident in its features, which include intellectual and social hubs to foster discussion, as well as centralized, shared equipment and research core facilities.

   WEA member Andersen Construction will be part of the team working on this new facility, which i s expected to be complete in July 2018.

   The Beaverton School Board voted unanimously this week to approve the appointment of Don Grotting as its next superintendent.

   Grotting comes to Beaverton from the David Douglas School District, where he has been superintendent for the past six years. 

   He was named "Oregon Superintendent of the Year" in 2014.  

   "We are excited to welcome Superintendent Grotting to Beaverton," says Anne Bryan, Chair of the Beaverton School Board,  "As a superintendent, he has an exceptional track record in providing student-focused learning, increasing achievement for students of all backgrounds, and carefully managing District resources. Superintendent Grotting is a tireless advocate for students and an important and respected voice in the state of Oregon."  

   To read more about Grotting and his credentials, visit the  Beaverton School District's website.

   In the Business Tribune this week, WEA Executive Director Pam Treece talks about the transportation work being done in Washington County in both funding and in planning.  
   Treece explains a little about the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP), which is a key funding program for the county.

   She also shares some insight about the Washington County Transportation Futures Study.
   To read WEA's monthly column, click here.

   This week the Metro Council unanimously voted to approve a $130 million proposal from its Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT).

   The proposal is for spending regional flexible funds, which is money that comes from the federal government.
   The proposal will allocate  $63.4 million in transit bonds for potential transit projects in Portland, Gresham, Tigard, and Tualatin, and it will pay for earlier light rail lines to Milwaukie and Clackamas.

   Another  $28.5 million will go towards funding affordable housing near transit; planning for transit corridors; projects that improve traffic flow; and for projects that encourage people to walk, bike, or take mass transit.

    The plan also allocates $3.8 million in bond sales that would support $10 million to develop projects to relieve congestion and $2 million to develop projects that allow people to walk and bike safely.

   Another  $26 million will go towards active transportation programs, including construction of bike lanes and sidewalks.  

   There's also $7.3 million for projects that help move freight and $1.5 million for Safe Routes to Schools programs.

   Last month WEA sent a letter to JPACT asking the committee give careful consideration to the flow of freight in the region.

  To read the letter, click here.