By Starla Pointer • Staff Writer • April 8, 2025
“Construction of MV Advancements’ new 7,100-square-foot headquarters office is ahead of schedule and on budget,” said Erik Winter of CIDA Architects in Portland.
Yet, the facility, which will bring together workers and clients from several locations, is long overdue, said Dave Haugeberg, a longtime board member.
“What, 40 years?“ he asked Wednesday during a tour with fellow board members, MV Advancements staff and supporters. They walked through the empty rooms and saw how the building lies parallel to Highway 99W, with its front, public side facing the parking area and Cozine wetlands.
“We’ve been talking about getting everyone under one roof for 40 years!” Haugeberg exclaimed.
MV Advancements started in the 1960s as Mid-Valley Rehabilitation, a place where people with disabilities could find meaningful employment. Initially based in the Amity area, it expanded into facilities and extended its range of services to include housing and supported employment in the community.
Eventually, Mid-Valley — which was renamed to MV Advancements in 2015 — had a wood products site (and at one time a nursery) on Highway 99W south of McMinnville, offices and other facilities at various locations in McMinnville and service centers in Salem and Dallas, as well.
The dream of Haugeberg and other board members, and of Kathy Schlotfeldt when she became director 10 years ago, was to consolidate most of those sites into one place. It would improve conditions for clients as well as staff, they said.
The Salem and Dallas locations will remain open, Haugeberg said. The wood products facility will be sold.
MV Advancements purchased the 2.86-acre site at 600 N.E. Baker St. from Linfield University in 2019. The land, adjacent to Highway 99W and the Cozine Ravine, held Columbus Elementary School until it was destroyed by the 1993 Spring Break Quake.
With a site secured and plans prepared by CIDA Architects of Portland, the nonprofit began raising money for the $3 million project. Supporters raised funds through community donations and grants from Yamhill County, the state, First Federal, The Oregon Community Foundation, the Roundhouse Foundation and the Austin Family Foundation, among others.
The $5,500,000 grant from the Austin Foundation of Newberg was especially sweet, Schlotfeldt said. Ken and Joan Austin of A-dec also helped MV founder Margaret Reavis raise funds for the nonprofit’s original wood products building in the 1970s.
Rachel Thompson/News-Register
Susan Huwaldt and other MV Advancements board members tour some of the office space in the nonprofit organization’s new headquarters building. When the building opens later this year, it will be the first time the staff and services will be centrally located.
Rachel Thompson/News-Register
Seen from the northwest, the building adjacent to South Baker Street will feature classrooms, meeting rooms, and offices for staff.
With funding assured, the headquarters project broke ground May 31, 2024, although major construction didn’t start until late July, after building permits were in place, Haugeberg said.
After 10 months, the building itself is largely complete. Contractor Andrew Scott Construction is working on interior finishing, including aspects such as equipment in conference rooms, bathrooms, phone rooms and flexible office space.
Interior and exterior painting remains as well. The building will feature gray, taupe and white with accents of crimson inside.
Outside, it will be painted white with charcoal accents, with rock and cedar on the columns.
Much remains to be done outside, said Roger Collins, owner of the construction company, including the parking lot, landscaping and other details. He estimated the project will be done by the end of 2025; although, he said, he would like to get everyone moved in by Halloween.
Schlotfeldt, who will retire in June but continue working part- time on finances, is excited about the new building. So is her staff, including Marie Gwilliam, who will take over as director.
They are eager to have a common workspace and room for meeting with clients, holding classes and providing other services. “More space than we ever had, that’s for sure,“ Schlotfeldt said. Board Treasurer Bob Laughlin added, “This will be great for clients.” The accessible building features several conference rooms, a large classroom that will be equipped with technology and offices. Large windows bring in natural light, and covered and open patios offer space for meeting or taking a break outside. “I tried to be very efficient and flexible,” said Winter, the architect.
Board member Susan Huwaldt said she admired those touches. “Maybe the delays were for the best, because we had the right team and were able to think of everything we needed,” she said.
MV Advancements’ 100-plus employees and 300-plus clients also are looking forward to a feature that wasn’t part of the project, but will benefit clients and staff nonetheless.
The Oregon Department of Transportation plans to make improvements this summer on Highway 99W adjacent to the MV Advancement’s site. ODOT will install an on-demand traffic signal to help pedestrians cross busy Baker Street from the east side, where MV Advancements has its headquarters, to the west side where Walgreens is located.
The Yamhill County Transit Area already has a bus stop at the location, so workers and clients can easily take the bus from downtown or other parts of town. Winter said there will be bike racks installed, as well, as MV Advancements encourages alternative forms of transportation.
As the board members, workers and supporters continued to admire the new building, Haugeberg paused to speak to Kelly Menke, former McMinnville City Council member.
“A dream came true, I gotta tell you,“ he said.
