Governor Announces New Workforce Grants to Create Jobs, Strengthen Economy

Grants support workforce projects for clean energy, film and video, and manufacturing.

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski has announced five new workforce grants that will create hundreds of new jobs and expand and train local workforce in renewable energy, film and video, and manufacturing projects in communities throughout Oregon. "These grants not only allow us to diversify our economy in areas such as clean and renewable energy, but they also help address our workforce shortage in key sectors," said Governor Kulongoski. "By helping companies access the workforce they need - and helping Oregonians access the skills they need - we can support sustainable jobs and a sustainable and strong economy." The Governor's Strategic Training Fund grants -- totaling $281,545 -- are supported through federal Workforce Investment Act resources.

The fund is targeted to assist companies with expansions and workforce training.

The grants are awarded by the Governor to regional Workforce Response Teams through Regional and Local Workforce Investment Boards. The five workforce grants the Governor announced today include: $100,000 to the Rogue Valley's "Power-Up Oregon" initiative, a group of small businesses in Southern Oregon working to solve the labor shortage in Jackson and Josephine Counties.

The project will market high-demand jobs to 19-34 year olds, and hire and train them using an abbreviated on-the-job training model. It is projected that 1000-1500 high wage positions will be filled with the help of this program in the next 12-24 months. $59,850 for the Wind Turbine Technician Training program at Columbia Gorge Community College.

The funds will be used for additional lab curriculum and the creation of an on-line and distance learning program for the Wind Turbine Technician Training class. It's estimated that 300-430 employees will be trained through this program. $49,350 to NW Oregon Works (NOW) in Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook Counties to collaborate with local workforce and economic development agencies.

The funding will help NOW enhance business and workforce retention strategies - through the help of small businesses clusters - to diversify rural economies. $48,825 to the Business Alliance for Sustainable Energy (BASE) consortium in Linn, Benton, Lincoln Counties.

BASE will coordinate with the AFL-CIO to connect the efforts of sustainable energy workforce projects and groups across the state, share practices and expand awareness of workforce and labor opportunities. $23,520 to Worksystems Inc. in the Portland Metro area.

The funding will help the Film and Video Office and various film companies develop a multi-employer workforce consortium for the film and video industry. This will allow Oregon to expand its growing film industry and provide family wage jobs. Since 2003, the Governor's Employer Workforce Investment Fund has helped train over 23,000 workers in critical knowledge-based industries in over 400 businesses across the state in sectors ranging from healthcare to manufacturing. "Expanding our workforce sector, supporting a clean energy agenda and diversifying our local economies go hand in hand," Governor Kulongoski said. "Now is the time to help create sustainable, family wage jobs for Oregon families in all of our communities." To see the Governor's Workforce Strategic Plan, visit:www.worksourceoregon.org

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Hank Ruark March 14, 2007 11:57 am (Pacific time)

G.M.: Await your good word on how to resuscitate timber industry, per earlier statement. Thousands once employed in Oregon via tree-snatch want to know, if you can tell 'em. IF you have "the stuff", put it up...or next time don't bother to claim it. Positive effort in D.C. is forcing restoration of County funds you were bewailing. Will that help ?? Can only last so long, if we follow "small government, less funding" tied to 19th Century political myths you peddling.

Hank Ruark March 13, 2007 10:22 am (Pacific time)

G.M.: You have pencil wrong-end up, again... This is 21st Century, and tree-stealing no longer makes it for anyone; so how you gonna "get t-industry back on feet" ? IF you know, worth scads of dollars...tell us !! "New"industries go where dollar is NOW, so long as corporations rule...so we "compete or die". Film and communications heavy community builders, a la Intel et al; and millions spent wherever films-shot. It AIN't "burger-flip" !! Sorry, but progress kills as well as builds...IF you wish to change, work on the capitalistic system...

Grey March 12, 2007 11:24 pm (Pacific time)

"The fund is targeted to assist companies with expansions and workforce training." Let me think on this...Give them money, tax payer money at that, to create expansion and training. Get them to come here by offering outlandish tax breaks, taxes that may have actually been turned around to fund ideas like this. Take money away from public service, like the State Police. Give more tax breaks because the company you just gave the first windfall to now wants to ship jobs over seas. Oh, then throw your hands up in the air when Uncle Sam decides to stop money for the conservative side of the state tied to the timber industry. My head hurts. Where exactly is the benenfit for Oregon? Sounds like a few hundred people get some training, but in what field? Burger flipping? Here's an idea...let Hollywood spend their own money for the film business, make the college find private funding for training and use the money to actually build a wind-farm so everyone can utilize clean energy. And if you want to "diversify" the smaller communities job markets, get the timber industry back on its feet. We little communities were pretty diversified years ago when lumber mills actually had something to do other than process wood for over-seas companies.

Allen March 12, 2007 9:05 pm (Pacific time)

Is this the order Teddy used? Renewable energy, film and video, and manufacturing projects in communities throughout Oregon.

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