This year, AGC Oregon-Columbia Chapter’s Workforce Development Committee awarded approximately $130,000 to support workforce development projects across the state that focus on developing the current and future skilled trade pipeline. These important initiatives raise awareness within middle schools, bring hands-on projects to high school students, and support training through pre-apprenticeships, community colleges, and universities. Each project is vital to our industry, and we are proud to offer our support.
AGC’s 2021 grant application will begin accepting application in February 2021. For more information, please check the Workforce Development Grant page on AGC’s website. https://www.agc-oregon.org/industry-priorities/workforce-grants/
Here are some of the projects we supported this year:
Clark College, Vancouver, Wash.: $5,000
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clark College has moved all operations and instruction to an online format through the end of fall 2020. These funds will enable the welding program to purchase a Formlabs 3D printer that will allow students to work in teams remotely to complete labs and course projects.
Constructing Hope, Portland, Ore.: $8,000
This grant will support Constructing Hope’s pre-apprenticeship program, which provides training to unemployed Oregonians who are predominantly people of color. Participants receive construction and life skill training, mentorship, case management, career placement, and tools.
Girls Build, Rogue Valley, Ore.: $10,000
Girls Build is seeking to expand to year-round programming in Josephine and Jackson counties. Funding will support summer camps, and an effort to build out year-round our programming in Ashland, Talent, Grants Pass, Cave Junction, and Medford/Central Point.
Glencoe High School, Hillsboro, Ore.: $5,000
Funding supports the hiring of a part-time instructional assistant (IA) for the construction program. The IA purchases materials, monitors safety, organizes and maintains tools and equipment, and assists students who are struggling with tasks.
Gresham Barlow School District, Gresham, Ore: $5,000
This grant allows Gresham Barlow School District to develop and implement elementary and middle school construction curriculum and labs to provide students with academic applications of math and literacy skills while promoting awareness of the construction industry.
High Desert Education Service District, Redmond, Ore.: $2,000
The High Desert Education Service District will be using the funds to purchase Mark Perna’s Career Tree materials. These resources will allow the district to promote the construction programs more effectively.
In4All, Beaverton, Ore.: $5,000
The funding support of the fourth and fifth grade STEM CONNECT program at the AGC sponsored elementary schools to encourage interest, confidence, and curiosity in math and science.
Lane ESD, Eugene, Ore.: $10,000
This grant partially funds the construction trades specialist position, specifically to expand, promote, and develop pre-apprenticeship and trades training and experiences for students throughout the school district.
Lane Workforce Partnership, Eugene, Ore.: $5,000
Funds will support Lane Workforce Partnership’s Construction-Aggregate Sector in having strong and established workforce representation to address the many challenges resulting from COVID-19.
NW College of Construction, Portland, Ore.: $5,000
NW College of Construction will use the funding to provide important hands-on activities to recruit and raise awareness within high school student populations that visit the campus.
Oregon Building Congress, Wilsonville, Ore.: $15,000
The grant will help support a variety of workforce development activities Oregon Building Congress implements across the state. These activities include increasing construction careers awareness and connecting young people to career pathways.
Oregon Institute of Technology AGC Student Chapter, Klamath Falls, Ore.: $4,247
This grant will support general AGC Student Chapter activities and the purchase of a highly sensitive accelerometer and associated equipment.
Oregon State University AGC Student Chapter, Corvallis, Ore.: $4,500
The AGC Student Chapter at Oregon State University will use the funding to support the purchase of five workstations in the Construction Engineering Management Program.
Oregon Tradeswomen, Portland, Ore.: $10,000
Oregon Tradeswomen will migrate their training program to an online model to respond to the current global health crisis, which requires social distancing, and to expand their capacity to reach rural communities and jobseekers with barriers to transportation.
Portland Youth Builders, Portland, Ore.: $6,000
This grant supports Portland Youth Builders’ YouthBuild Program, and their new Bridge Program operated in Washington County. These programs will impact approximately 100 low-income youth.
Portland Workforce Alliance, Portland, Ore.: $4,000
Grant funds will be used to partially fund staff to work with PWA board members, volunteers from the construction industry, union apprenticeship training centers and Portland Community College to maximize industry/education partnerships and provide a variety of “real life” experiences to students.
Willamette Education Service District, Salem, Ore.: $22,000
Willamette Education Service District partners with AGC to develop and implement a two-week summer externship for Oregon and SW Washington educators. These funds provide a stipend for participating educators to cover associated costs.
Winter Lakes High School, Coquille, Ore.: $4,100
Winter Lakes High School will use the funding to purchase curriculum and tools for hands-on learning to supplement their construction training program.