Lithium Americas Partners with Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to Advance Orovada K–8 School Project
The community partnership between Lithium Americas and the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada reached a major milestone on June 9, 2026, when the Humboldt County School District Board unanimously approved an agreement authorizing the Community Foundation to manage the build-out of the new Orovada K–8 School. The vote cleared the final administrative hurdle, paving the way for construction of the long-anticipated school to begin.
An important milestone was recently achieved with the selection of Rafael Construction as the general contractor for the new school. Working alongside project partners, Rafael Construction will oversee construction of the campus and help bring the community's vision for a modern, future-ready K-8 educational facility to life. Site mobilization and earthworks should begin in the coming days.
Lithium Americas has worked with the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, the Humboldt County School District, and residents to address the community's long-term educational needs. Through a multi-million-dollar contribution from Lithium Americas and years of collaborative planning, the partners have turned a shared vision into a reality that will provide a modern, safe, and expandable learning environment for Orovada students.
With the agreement now in place, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, serving as the project manager and administrator of the development fund established by Lithium Americas, is advancing the new school to the next phase toward becoming a reality.
The new Orovada K–8 School reflects years of planning, collaboration, and community engagement. The school will be built on a 40-acre parcel, replacing the current campus near the busy intersection of U.S. Highway 95 and State Route 293. The Bureau of Land Management transferred the land to the Humboldt County School District, providing a safer location for students and room for future expansion.
"The Board's unanimous vote reflects our community's commitment to providing every student in Humboldt County with the learning environment they deserve," said Colby Corbitt, Superintendent of the Humboldt County School District. "We are grateful for our partnership with Lithium Americas and the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, which made this possible. We look forward to welcoming students to their new school next year."
"The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada is proud to serve as the project manager for the Orovada K–8 School, a project that exemplifies the kind of community investment our foundation exists to support," said Eaton Dunkelberger, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. "With the agreement now in place, we are ready to get to work and are honored to help make this a reality."
Designed by the Community, for the Community
The Orovada K–8 School is more than a replacement campus—it is the result of extensive collaboration among local families, educators, ranchers, community leaders, the Humboldt County School District, Lithium Americas, and project partners.
Throughout the planning process, community members participated in public meetings and town halls, which directly informed the school's design, location, and functionality.
From the outset, Lithium Americas recognized the importance of providing a safe learning environment for students as activity related to the Thacker Pass project increased. Working collaboratively with the Humboldt County School District, the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, the Bureau of Land Management, and local stakeholders, the project team identified a new school site away from major transportation corridors, creating a safer campus with room for future expansion.
Community members also emphasized the need for shared gathering spaces that would benefit residents beyond the school day. As a result, plans were expanded to include a commercial kitchen, modern athletic facilities, and flexible meeting spaces to support community and public events and local programs.
To address long-term growth and evolving enrollment needs, the school has been designed with an expandable, modular framework. This approach enables efficient addition of future classroom wings and facilities as community needs change, ensuring the campus remains practical and sustainable for generations.
Investing in Orovada's Future
The school project comes as construction activity at Thacker Pass, about 25 miles from Orovada, intensifies. As workforce demands grow, project partners recognize the need to invest in lasting community infrastructure that benefits residents.
While the new school will support the educational needs of current and future students, it also reflects Lithium Americas’ broader commitment to strengthening local communities and ensuring that economic development is accompanied by meaningful local investment.
With board approval secured and Rafael Construction selected as the general contractor, the Orovada community is now one step closer to welcoming students to a modern, safe, and community-centered learning environment. Site mobilization and earthworks are expected to be the next major milestones as the school moves toward groundbreaking and construction.