The Alpha Community Ambulance Service plans to move its facilities from its South Atherton Street location to four acres of land near the intersection of East College Avenue and Puddintown Road.

Many of the volunteers at Alpha are Penn State students, and the university donated the land.

The move is necessary because the facilities at the current location are "totally inadequate," said Scott Rawson, executive director of Alpha Community Ambulance Service.

There are not enough classrooms to hold training sessions, and often the group must meet in Boalsburg. The garage can house two vehicles. All others must be stored outside, resulting in inefficiency during rescues. Ice-cold ambulances do not respond well in emergencies, Rawson said.

The new location was chosen for a few reasons. There is good access to downtown State College, and the site is in close proximity to Centre Community Hospital, Rawson said.

The university leased the land to Alpha Ambulance in a contract that asks for $1 a year for 50 years. The company met with President Graham Spanier asking for a monetary contribution to a new facility, but Spanier offered land instead, Rawson said.

The new headquarters will include secure inside storage for all ambulances and vans, space for staff and community education classes, sleeping quarters for volunteers, dispatch and administrative offices and a medical equipment room, as well as space for expansion.

Bids for construction will be sent out in July 2002 with construction expected to begin in fall of 2002. The company hopes work will be complete by summer of 2003, Rawson said.

The new building will cost a total of $3 million. Alpha sponsored a silent fundraising phase that ended on Feb. 7, in which the group solicited the board of directors and the staff of the company. The company raised $781,000. Now Alpha will turn to the public phase of the fundraiser to collect the rest.

Chuck Rider, president of Rider Auto Inc., is heading the capital fund drive. "I wanted to contribute as much to this facility as they have to us," he said.

He is joined by the honorary co-chairs, Spanier and State College Mayor Bill Welsh. After recruiting Spanier, "we also wanted someone representing the borough," Rawson said.

Rider has helped to organize volunteers to solicit various segments of the community. They will go to an area they are familiar with and ask for monetary pledges of five years, he said.

"It's going really well," said Rose Moffet of the Barash Group, the company hired to provide publicity and organization to the campaign. "Especially because (of Sept. 11), people are more receptive of these causes."