HANFORD — Washington River Protection Solutions is donating $500,000 over two years to help Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College bolster science, technology, engineering and math offerings and provide student scholarships.

The announcement Thursday came a day after Gov. Chris Gregoire released a first draft of a budget plan for the rest of the 2009-11 biennium that included deep cuts to higher education.

Dom Sansotta, work force resources manager for Washington River Protection Solutions, which is the Hanford tank operations contractor, said being able to find "well-educated employees with special skills" is "vital to our success" -- and institutions such as WSU Tri-Cities in Richland and CBC in Pasco make that happen.

The community also benefits when people have the chance to advance their education and learn new skills, he said.

The money will be given in $125,000 installments starting this year.

At WSU Tri-Cities, the first round of funding will be used to upgrade Energy and Environmental Laboratory equipment, help with science and engineering research projects done by juniors and seniors and be used for student internships and scholarships, according to the contractor.

Most of the money given to CBC will support the nuclear technology program, which was revived this fall. Washington River Protection Solutions also will help with expanding the program and general scholarships, according to the contractor.

The contractor has committed to supporting the program -- which this year has 34 students -- for five years.

WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Vicky Carwein and Donna Campbell, vice president for instruction at CBC, said the donation will make a significant difference at their institutions, which are bracing for more state cuts. Both institutions already were hit with reductions during the last state legislative session.

The budget Gregoire revealed Wednesday isn't final. She plans to release another draft and the state House of Representatives and Senate also come up with their own plans. But educators are expecting more significant cuts in funding.

Sansotta said his group was only going to announce its first year of contributions Thursday but then decided to firm up what it would give in 2010 and announce that as well after the budget was released Wednesday. The group wanted to make a strong statement of support, he said.

Campbell and Carwein said the donation will help their institutions continue their important work of educating students and in turn strengthening the community.

"We do not take for granted (the contractors) generosity," Carwein said.