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

Salem - Governor Ted Kulongoski this week 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.

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."

See the Governor's Workforce Strategic Plan