This summer Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter is pleased to announce another year of grant funds to help support programming that seeks to improve the construction workforce pipeline. The construction industry across the state of Oregon and SW Washington continues to grow and add jobs at a record pace. These programs are critical to introducing, educating, and training the next generation of construction workers. These funds, awarded under the direction of AGC’s Workforce and Professional Development Council, will support 14 organizations.
Business Education Compact (BEC) – $6,000 to support partnership effort for two AGC member companies to participate in the BEC STEM Connect program focused on connecting math, science, and construction skills to real world applications for fourth and fifth graders. Visit www.becpdx.org.
Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) – $7,500 to hire CTEC students to work on projects within the construction industry. The funds will be broken down into hourly scholarships that are granted to students for each work week. The end goal is to create a continuous program of paid work opportunities and gather data on the long-term connection and positive placement of a new, young workforce. Visit ctec.salkeiz.k12.or.us/residential-construction/.
Clark College Foundation – $5,000 to underwrite tuition to increase participation in Clark College’s Professional Edge for Construction for smaller construction companies. Underwriting the tuition costs will open the training program to companies that need it most. Visit www.clark.edu.
Constructing Hope (CH) – $5,000 for the Constructing Hope’s pre-apprenticeship program. CH will deliver training to 100 disadvantaged men and women, mentorship for 75 adult graduates, and a 5-week summer program for minority and low-income youth. Visit www.constructinghope.org.
Northwest College of Construction – $20,000 for support of the Construction Career Pipeline program, to mentor and guide 130 apprentices through program completion to journeymen. The goal of the program is to reduce apprentice attrition rate and ultimately place more apprentices in high wage occupations. Visit www.nwcoc.com.
Oregon Building Congress – $30,000 for support of workforce development projects for 2018–19, which include relationship building with high schools, CTE programs, industry advisory committees, and other industry connections; development and implementation of high school student chapters; industry mentors; and construction curriculum. OBC will also be working to bring together BOLI, community colleges, and various trades training centers to host a construction career fair for military veterans. Visit www.obcweb.com.
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. – $10,000 to support professional development for Pathways to Success pre-apprenticeship field instructors. This includes curriculum development, adult learning methods, teaching tools, and other topics related to classroom and field instructors for adult learners. Visit www.tradeswomen.net.
Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) – $6,000 total grant allocation: $3,500 to support OIT civil engineering student chapter professional development activities, and $2,500 for the purchase of student lab lockers. Visit www.oit.edu.
Oregon State University (OSU) – $71,600 total grant allocation: $67,600 to support the OSU CCE industry liaison position to facilitate career and industry connections between students, faculty, AGC members, and the construction industry. $4,000 to support AGC Student Chapter activities and the purchase of lab equipment. Visit cce.oregonstate.edu.
Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) – $5,000 to support POIC’s inaugural pre-apprenticeship program. The BOLI-certified program aims to serve 48–60 youth (age 18–25) of color who are living on low incomes. The funds will allow POIC to increase support services for trainees and increase the numbers of trainees served. Visit www.portlandoic.org.
Portland Workforce Alliance – $4,000 for support of Bridge to Construction Careers 2018–19, which helps recruit over 100 volunteers to provide 450+ Portland area high school students experiences to learn about construction careers through career days, classroom speakers, job fairs, and summer camps. Visit www.portlandworkforcealliance.org.
Portland Youth Builders (PYB) – $5,000 for support of Constructing Pathways Out of Poverty pre-apprenticeship program for 50 first-year construction students. This program ensures that current and prospective students will have the continued support necessary to be successful in a construction career. Visit www.pybpdx.org.
Willamette Education Service District (Willamette Promise) – $27,000 for funding of the 2018 Educator Externship Program, a two-week summer program for 75 educators to experience hands-on learning about construction careers, to share knowledge with their students and other faculty. Upon program completion, including submittal of lesson plans and program recap, educators to receive a stipend and graduate credit. Visit www.wesd.org.
Yamhill-Carlton High School – $1,000 to support the AGC after-school program which is designed to bridge the gap between school, students, and industry. Students will be conducting industry level jobs for actual customers and other businesses. Visit www.ycsdhs.ss3.sharpschool.com/.
For more information on AGC’s Workforce and Professional Development Council, contact Aaron Bouchane, 503-685-8304.