The award of a $540,998 contract for remodeling and construction at the 200-man Job Corps Center at Poston, Arizona, on the Colorado River Reservation was announced today by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. The center is expected to be ready for activation within six months.
Poston, once a wartime relocation center, will be one of ten Job Corps conservation centers to be operated in Indian areas under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Three others already in operation are at Mexican Springs, New Mexico (Navajo Reservation); Winslow, Arizona (near the Navajo area); and Neah Bay, Washington (Makah Reservation). Others will be at San Carlos, Arizona (San Carlos Reservation); Chippewa Ranch, Minnesota (White Earth); Kicking Horse, Montana (Flathead); Eight Canyon, New Mexico (Mescalero Apache); Fort Simcoe, Washington (Yakima); and Swiftbird, Eagle Butte, South Dakota (Cheyenne River).
The centers are being created to provide education and occupational training for out-of-school youth. Nearly 300 young men are already at work on conservation and improvement projects on public and Indian lands.
The construction project at Poston will consist of remodeling and repair of 13 adobe buildings for barracks; construction of a 12,800-square-foot metal building for kitchen, dining room, offices and classrooms; a 24,000-square-foot surfaced recreation area; and all necessary utilities.
Successful bidder was Mel Slaysman Construction Company, Phoenix, Arizona. Eight other bids were received ranging from $552,500 to $592,100.
