The Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter recognizes the critical need to increase and maintain a pipeline of skilled tradespeople and professionals to ensure well trained construction workforce for the future.
AGC recently awarded over $192,000 in workforce development grants to nine different organizations. Each year, AGC allocates a portion of its annual budget directly to workforce and professional development efforts. This year grants were awarded to:
- ACE Academy
- Constructing Hope Pre-apprenticeship Program
- Northwest College of Construction
- Oregon Building Congress
- Oregon State University (Construction Education Management)
- Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
- Portland Youth Builders
- Rogue Community College
- Oregon Institute of Technology (Civil Engineering)
These grants ranged from $1,500 to $50,000, and were awarded to help fund programs focused primarily on construction career awareness, construction industry outreach, technical skill development, construction education, student chapter support, industry liaisons, and technology upgrades.
It is estimated that over 3,000 students in various programs will be directly impacted by these grants. Plus, through career fairs and events, an additional 5,000 individuals will receive some exposure to careers in construction.
“Each year AGC sets aside funds to support workforce development programs. Our members have been very clear that attention to workforce is a priority for them,” said Stacy Lewallen, chair of the AGC Workforce and Professional Development Committee. “These grants help support programs that show the construction industry is an exciting and worthwhile career choice with unlimited options.”
Each grant was submitted though a formal written process and all grants awarded were closely vetted by either the AGC Workforce Committee or the AGC Construction Management Education Council.
Grants
ACE Academy
Project: Park Model Home Construction
AGC Grant: $43,500
Estimated Benefactors Served: 100s of current and future ACE students
Grant money to purchase materials for construction a park model project, plus tools and equipment purchases that were previously borrowed from PCNI, and purchase a cover for house while under construction. Plan is to make the model home project a perpetual funding source. Revenues from sale of completed home will provide funding source for future home projects each year.
Constructing Hope Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Project: Community Construction Program
AGC Grant: $5,000
Estimated Benefactors Served: 60 graduates from unemployed men and women needing work skills development
No-cost, nine week construction skills and life skills training program. Graduates will be placed in construction apprenticeship programs and other careers paths. Grant funds to be used for program personnel to provide construction skills and construction math training specifically. Four contract trainers, under supervision of program manager/lead trainer. Trainers work directly with participants, during three nine-week classes.
NW College of Construction
Project: NWCoC Workforce Recruitment and Outreach Efforts
AGC Grant: $31,500
Estimated Benefactors Served: 200+ students specifically, plus broad exposure at career fairs. Target age demographic 16–21.
Outreach activities include career fairs, NWCoC student orientations, construction career weeks, construction camps, outreach advertising, and craft scholarships for residential construction certification.
Oregon Building Congress
Project(s): Workforce Development Projects and OBC membership
AGC Grant: $35,000
Estimated Benefactors Served: 200–1,000 students, ages 14–25
- Workforce Development: four construction career fairs; new AGC High School student chapter development at ACE and three other schools; six site /training center visits; work prep program with Mt. Hood Community College and Portland Community College to develop accredited high school-to-community college curriculum and skill training; and Spring Academy at ACE for feeder middle schools and ACE partnering high school.
- OBC membership: continued work with educators, businesses, public agencies, and apprenticeship training programs, with single focus on construction workforce development.
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc.
Project: Building Girls
AGC Grant: $10,000
Estimated Benefactors Served: 1,770 ethnically and racially diverse girls, ages 10–24, generally in Portland metro area
AGC grant money will be used for program and instructional supplies, construction tools, building materials, contract assistance instructors, and youth transportation for field trips to apprenticeship training centers and jobsites.
Oregon State University – Civil and Construction Engineering Industry Liaison Position/Outreach Coordinator
AGC Grant: $50,000
Estimated benefactors served: hundreds (students, faculty, AGC members, AGC)
Funding to request pay salary and benefits specifically for the construction industry liaison position, which is unique to the school of CCE. Liaison focuses on connecting students and faculty with AGC members and to maintain further relations between CCE and AGC.
Portland Youth Builders
Construction Training for At-Risk Youth
AGC Grant: $5,000
Estimated Benefactors Served: 50 construction program students
Grant will help support 50 students expected to participate in PYBs first year, full-time construction program. AGC grant will cover $3,000 for student stipend support to meet basic living expenses while in the program, plus $2,000 for GED test fees for students.
For more information on these grants, contact Colette Evers, 503-685-8328.