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FUTURE READY OREGON UPDATE
May 11, 2023
Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
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 Contact: FutureReadyOregon@hecc.oregon.gov
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Applying for a Workforce Ready Grant? Technical Assistance Providers Are Available to Help
Calling community-based organizations and workforce service providers: applications for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two: Innovation in Workforce Programs are due Friday, June 23, 2023. Full details—in English and Spanish—can be found on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) Grants and Contracts webpage.
Interested in receiving coaching and technical assistance throughout the application process? All potential applicants are invited to consult our Technical Assistance Providers. To take advantage of this free resource, see the Technical Assistance Provider Biographies on the HECC Grants and Contracts webpage and call or email your preferred provider using the contact information listed under their biography. Providers include:
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Marianne Boules, Boules Consulting
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Bill Weismann, Grassroots NW
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Ann Craig and Lynn Egli, Next Level Non-Profit Consulting LLC
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Nita Kirby and Robin Ortiz, NonProfit Success Group
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Andrés Oswill, Se Puede PDX
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Jennifer Wisdom, Wisdom Consulting
Future Ready Oregon has also offered a series of Information Sessions for prospective applicants. Recordings of these sessions are available on the Grants and Contracts webpage.
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Volunteers Needed to Review Applications for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two
With the due date for the second round of Workforce Ready Grants approaching, the HECC is calling for volunteers to join the Evaluation Review Committee. This committee will score eligible applications using criteria established in the Request for Applications (RFA). Scores will inform funding and award decisions for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two. Evaluation Review Committee members will receive training and written instructions prior to starting the review process.
Before volunteering for the Evaluation Review Committee, please consider the following details:
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Date Range: Grant applications are due June 23, 2023. The volunteer interest form to join the Evaluation Review Committee is requested by June 30, 2023. Orientation sessions for the Evaluation Review Committee will happen between July 5 and 12, 2023. Evaluations are due by July 31, 2023. (Dates for the Evaluation Review Committee’s timeline are approximate and may change.)
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Time Commitment: Evaluators should estimate a time commitment of 5-7 hours, which includes time to attend orientation sessions, review applications, and ask follow-up questions. We understand that everyone’s familiarity with reviewing grant applications differs and may affect the total amount of time needed. Note too that the total number of applications to review cannot be determined until after the grant application deadline has passed.
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Orientation: Orientation sessions will be conducted via live webinars. These sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend and will be made available to all reviewers for reference. Attendance is not required but is highly encouraged.
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Method: Evaluators will review and score applications in SurveyMonkey Apply, a web-based grant management system that will be made available to evaluators at no cost.
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Conflicts of Interest: If your organization, or one you represent (including as a board member), plans to apply for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two, please do not join the Evaluation Review Committee. If you are unsure whether a conflict of interest exists, be sure to indicate your affiliation(s) on the volunteer interest form so that we may help make a final determination.
Future Ready Oregon Visits Portland Community College
This spring, several HECC staff visited Portland Community College (PCC) to see firsthand the impact of Future Ready Oregon funding. PCC has received support from four Future Ready Oregon initiatives to help prepare Oregonians for a variety of jobs.
The day began at the Willow Creek Opportunity Center, where Future Ready Oregon staff learned about the wraparound supports and training stipends available to help students complete their journey from the classroom to the workforce. One highlight from the visit was a tour of the center’s state-of-the-art mechatronics lab, which prepares students for jobs in fields that include semiconductor manufacturing. Staff also toured a nursing classroom that enables students to transition to a healthcare workforce environment by replicating a standard medical facility—from a check-in desk and patient beds to a functioning lab. The day concluded with a visit to the Rock Creek campus’s welding technology and microelectronics programs, where staff observed students gaining hands-on practice.
We want to thank DaNene Dwyer, Pam Hester, Janeen Hull, Sage Learn, Colette Tipper, Carrie Weikel-Delaplane, and their colleagues for an insightful and inspiring tour. We are grateful to everyone involved for sharing their time and expertise, and we look forward to observing how PCC continues to develop Future Ready Oregon-funded programs in support of Oregon's workforce.
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Learn more on our website:
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