Workforce Ready Grants Expand Career Pathways in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology
HECC has announced preliminary awards totaling approximately $42 million to support 62 projects that prioritize underserved and marginalized communities
Salem, OR – The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is pleased to announce the latest round of Future Ready Oregon Workforce Ready Grant awards to support 62 innovative workforce and talent development projects. A combined total of approximately $42 million has been preliminarily awarded, making this the largest round of Future Ready Oregon grant funding to date. These sector-focused Workforce Ready Grants in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology support collaborative programs that center the needs of Oregon’s underserved communities* and connect individuals to resources for pursuing good-paying jobs and meaningful careers in key sectors of Oregon’s economy.
Grantees include community-based organizations, community colleges, public and private universities, local workforce development boards, school districts, and other education and workforce service providers from all parts of the state. Projects advance innovative approaches to education and training, with clearly defined partnerships, career-connected learning pathways, culturally relevant services, and wraparound supports for participants.
HECC Executive Director Ben Cannon says, “With this third round of Workforce Ready Grants, we are expanding the collaborative partnerships that are essential to engaging a diverse workforce and equipping Oregonians for high-demand careers. Congratulations to all grantees and thank you in advance for your innovative work to serve Oregonians.”
The HECC received 184 applications—seeking a combined total of more than $185 million—in response to the competitive, sector-focused Requests for Applications. The agency engaged partners in a rigorous review and decision-making process that centered equity, innovation, and partnerships. The funding priorities for these sector-specific Workforce Ready Grants were informed by HECC’s statewide Industry Consortia. This is the third and final round of Workforce Ready Grant funding available through the Oregon Legislature’s 2022 investment known as Future Ready Oregon (Senate Bill 1545). The list of preliminary awards is included at the end of this announcement, and descriptions of all the projects that have been recommended for funding can be found here.
Healthcare Workforce Ready Grants
Sixteen projects totaling approximately $10.8 million will advance healthcare career pathways, connecting participants with regionally identified high-demand occupations in fields such as community health, behavioral health, surgical tech, phlebotomy, and dentistry. For example, Klamath Union High School is creating a new Health Occupations Program to provide students access to high-wage, high-demand health occupations, expanding employer and education partnerships. Another grantee, Western Oregon University, is recruiting Spanish-speaking bilingual (and multilingual) students interested in behavioral health careers, and providing them with tuition, wraparound supports, cultural competency training, and opportunities to earn wages while they complete their education (otherwise known as earn-and-learn opportunities).
Ten projects totaling approximately $8.5 million will advance nursing career pathways in all parts of the state, including a variety of credential pathways. For example, the Bushnell University School of Nursing is collaborating with a medical provider and local workforce development board to launch a collaborative program to prepare bachelor’s degree-level nurses to work in rural Lane County hospitals. Another grantee, RISE Partnership, is expanding education and training programs into a nursing career pathway for Oregon’s homecare workers. The program includes free training, wraparound supports, career coaching, and job placement services.
Manufacturing Workforce Ready Grants
Nineteen projects were awarded a combined total of approximately $12.6 million to expand outreach and career exploration initiatives and earn-and-learn training opportunities. These projects will train participants in a range of skills that will be transferable across Oregon’s diverse manufacturing sector, from the food-and-beverage industry to forestry and welding. For example, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council is expanding its Re-Entry employment program, connecting adults in custody and formerly justice-involved individuals to local manufacturing opportunities including a leading HVAC manufacturer. Another grantee, Clackamas Community College, is partnering with 20 organizations to expand access to training and careers in manufacturing, including earn-and-learn experiences in the areas of renewable energy infrastructure, industrial maintenance, and welding.
Technology Workforce Ready Grants
Seventeen projects were awarded a combined total of approximately $10.1 million for education and training focused on transferrable technology skills, high-tech career exploration, and programs providing upskilling and retraining for adult learners, dislocated or incumbent workers. Projects will prepare participants for jobs in a variety of high-tech occupations. For example, the Afghan Support Network is preparing Afghan refugees in Oregon to earn in-demand IT certifications by providing them with culturally responsive training, career coaching, vocational English classes, and wraparound services and supports that will remove barriers to success and position them for future employment. Another grantee, Eastern Oregon University’s Greater Oregon STEM Hub, will expand its workforce development education program across Eastern Oregon by hiring a Technology Workforce Exploration Educator to empower local educators to craft technology-focused curriculum through an innovative train-the-trainer model.
Sector-focused Workforce Ready Grants in Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Technology
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Healthcare
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Healthcare Career Pathways
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Grant Recipient:
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Proposed Award Amount:
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Adelante Mujeres
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$548,113
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AntFarm
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$500,000
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Cascadia Health, Inc.
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$453,046
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Familias en Acción
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$500,000
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HIV Alliance
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$500,000
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Klamath Union High School
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$440,843
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La Clinica del Valle Family Health Care Center, Inc.
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$839,879
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Lane Education Service District
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$1,000,000
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Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy
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$500,000
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Northeast Oregon Network
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$351,512
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Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center, Inc. and Rosemary Anderson High School
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$500,000
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Portland State University
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$1,229,321
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Project Youth+
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$500,000
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The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization
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$500,000
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Western Oregon University
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$2,000,000
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Willamette Education Service District
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$499,332
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Nursing Career Pathways
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Grant Recipient:
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Proposed Award Amount:
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Blue Mountain Community College
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$788,015
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Bushnell University
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$1,000,000
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Chemeketa Community College
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$1,000,000
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Columbia Health Services
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$440,733
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Oregon Health & Science University
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$732,620
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Portland Community College
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$842,773
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Providence Health & Services - Oregon
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$621,992
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RISE Partnership
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$2,000,000
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Rogue Community College
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$435,410
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
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$710,318
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Manufacturing
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Grant Recipient:
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Proposed Award Amount:
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Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council
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$301,759
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Centro Cultural del Condado de Washington
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$500,823
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Chemeketa Community College
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$1,000,000
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City of Hillsboro
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$500,000
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Clackamas Community College
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$1,000,000
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Clackamas Workforce Partnership
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$632,125
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Consejo Hispano
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$500,000
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Golden Rule ReEntry
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$683,794
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iUrban Teen
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$847,208
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Klamath County School District (Mazama High School)
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$302,793
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Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
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$500,000
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Northwest Oregon Works
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$1,000,000
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Oregon State University (Mechanized Harvesting Laboratory)
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$383,730
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Oregon State University (Veterans Semiconductor Upskilling)
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$1,000,000
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Sheridan School District 48J
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$500,000
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Umpqua Community College
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$500,000
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Unidos Bridging Community
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$959,691
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West Linn-Wilsonville School District 3Jt
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$500,000
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Worksystems, Inc.
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$1,000,000
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Technology
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Grant Recipient:
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Proposed Award Amount:
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Afghan Support Network
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$623,902
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Apprenti
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$400,000
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Chemeketa Community College
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$297,443
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Eastern Oregon University (Acquisition of Computer and Technical Skills)
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$1,142,977
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Eastern Oregon University (Greater Oregon STEM Hub)
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$444,999
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Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network
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$666,880
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Oregon Institute of Technology (UX Writing, Design, and Research)
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$500,000
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Oregon Institute of Technology (Applied Computing)
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$709,546
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Oregon State University (College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences)
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$1,000,000
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Oregon State University (OSU Professional and Continuing Education)
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$1,000,000
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Oregon TRIO Association
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$223,939
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Pacific University
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$525,100
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Portland State University
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$604,378
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Project Youth+
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$605,964
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Ross Ragland Theater
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$500,000
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University of Oregon
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$500,000
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Warm Springs Community Action Team
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$452,991
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