Theodore R. Kulongoski           Governor

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2010

Contacts:

Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169

Courtney Warner Crowell, 503-378-3554

Greg White (Oregon Workforce Investment Board), 503-947-2451

Governor Kulongoski Announces Recovery Act Grant Award for Green Jobs Training

State of Oregon to receive $5.38 million to train unemployed Oregonians

(Salem)- The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the State of Oregon has been awarded a State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant for $5.38 million to train and place unemployed Oregonians into green jobs. The State Energy Training Partnership grants are made through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and are included in a larger initiative — totaling $500 million — to fund workforce development projects that promote economic growth by preparing workers for careers in the energy efficiency industries. 

“Today’s grant announcement demonstrates Oregon’s commitment to helping unemployed Oregonians receive the training and placement for living wage jobs that increase energy efficiency and renewable energy,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Oregon has been a leader in developing green jobs across the state and these funds will help put Oregonians in every corner of the state to work in these important industries.”

The state will implement the Greening of Oregon’s Workforce project to develop local networks that will deliver training in green occupations. The state’s Green Jobs Council will be responsible for implementing the green jobs strategy, and will link to other state efforts that are emerging around green industries.

Training will prepare workers for occupations in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, including occupations that have long‐term demand, offer the potential for high wage, career pathway jobs, and support local sourcing and innovation. Program partners will develop new curricula, adapt existing curricula, and complete development of the Oregon Green Tech Certificate.

Approximately 1,000 participants will earn a degree or certificate related to the targeted green industries, and approximately 800 participants will be placed into employment related to the training.

Local Workforce Investment Boards will be responsible for convening local training efforts throughout the state.  Specific local projects will include:

• The Portland Metro Local Team (Multnomah and Washington Counties), led by Worksystems, Inc. will recruit unemployed or underemployed people with some college credits, who are not currently enrolled in college, to complete their AAS degree and obtain employment in the renewable electric power, sustainable manufacturing, and energy efficiency industries.
• The Salem Metro Local Team (Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties), led by the Enterprise for Employment and Education, will recruit dislocated or incumbent workers to enter or advance in the green process, wind technology, photovoltaic, and advanced green manufacturing industries.
• The Linn Benton Lincoln Local Team, led by the Linn Benton Lincoln Workforce Investment Board, will recruit individuals to enter employment in the weatherization and home retrofit industries.
• The Lane County Local Team, led by the Lane Workforce Partnership, will recruit dislocated workers with a background in manufacturing, construction and high-tech into a customized and accelerated AAS degree training in the energy management or renewable energy technician fields.
• The Rogue Valley Local Team (Jackson and Josephine Counties), led by the Job Council, will recruit electricians to become certified solar grid installers.
• The Clackamas County Local Team, led by the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County, will retrain unemployed construction and other workers with the green skills needed to perform weatherization and retrofits, and with the green building skills that are in demand.
• The Rural Oregon Team (the remaining counties in the state), led by The Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance, will develop, along with community college partners, a one-year Oregon Green Technology Certificate designed to give unemployed rural Oregonians with the entry-level skills needed in industries that are associated with or support green jobs.

The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants nationally are designed to teach workers the skills required in emerging industries, including energy efficiency and renewable energy. This set of green grants is the third awarded in as many weeks by the U.S. Department of Labor. Less than a month into 2010, the department’s investment in this growing area of the job marketplace already has reached $440 million.

Today’s grant announcement will be administered by the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and was applied for by the Oregon Workforce Investment Board.