Viper Northwest of Albany has donated $30,000 to Linn-Benton Community College to support equipment purchases for the college's new Advanced Manufacturing Center.

The money will be used to purchase industrial training equipment and simulation software for the training facility.

Viper Northwest, Inc., specializes in machined and precision fabricated parts and assemblies. Guy DeLude, president and CEO, says business is growing and as a result the need for highly trained people to operate the computerized manufacturing equipment is growing as well.

The training center will house LBCC's new Mechatronics Technician program; a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program that will focus on high-tech industry skills such as equipment installation, maintenance, repair and troubleshooting.

Democrat-Herald