STEM education got a $3.5 million boost in the Finley School District.

The recently completed new construction and remodeling project aims to bolster the district’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, and agriculture focus at Finley’s River View High School.

Called the CTE Center, which is short for Career and Technical Education, the project included the addition of about 2,000 square feet, and the remodel of about 5,000 square feet, including two science classrooms, a woodshop, welding shop, two greenhouses, several offices, bathrooms, and working storage rooms. 

An exterior walkway also was installed with personalized donor bricks.

Funding for the project came from a state $3 million STEM grant and a $10 million bond passed by school district voters in February. The bond included more than $2.1 million for the CTE Center at 37012 S. Finley Road.

The state grant requirement asked for a $100,000 community matching grant. Local businesses stepped up to help the district reach the goal, including Battelle, Waste Management, Agrium, Oxarc, Sandvik and numerous others.

The project completion date was Jan. 31.

The district hired Design West Architects of Kennewick. DGR Grant Construction of Richland was the general contractor.

DGR Grant Construction supervisors were Matt Frederickson and David Hilbert

Brandon Wilm and Rudy Olson made up Design West Architects’ design team.