Industry Consortia: First Quarter Activities
Industry Consortia Advance Short-term Goals at Recent Public Meetings
During the first quarter of 2024, the Industry Consortia convened to advance their respective recommendations for sector-specific criteria to be prioritized in the third and final round of Workforce Ready Grant funding. Informed by the consortia and administered by the HECC, this round of Workforce Ready Grants will be sector-focused, with separate Requests for Applications (RFAs) for healthcare, manufacturing, and technology opening soon.
Each consortium used a consensus-seeking process to advance its recommendations:
- The Healthcare Consortium recommended advancing two separate Healthcare RFAs: one for nursing career pathways and one focused on meeting community-identified healthcare workforce needs. As part of the consensus-seeking process, members discussed the need for funding that supports innovation in healthcare education and training opportunities, sustainable funding models, and recruitment and retention opportunities for priority populations.
- The Manufacturing Consortium recommended one RFA with two focus areas: one for intentional outreach that raises awareness of manufacturing careers and provides opportunities for career exploration, and one for earn-and-learn opportunities that provide compensation to participate in training that leads to employment. Examples of compensation include stipends, on-the-job training, and paid internships.
- The Technology Consortium recommended one RFA that will advance the high-tech workforce with two focus areas: one for career advancement and the other for recruitment. The career advancement focus area will support the upskilling and reskilling of incumbent workers in transferrable technology skills. The recruitment focus area will support the expansion of education and training programs for transferrable technology skills, including building awareness of career options and providing for career exploration.
To learn more about these recommendations, visit the HECC’s Industry Consortia web page and see the materials for the Healthcare Consortium’s January 25th meeting, the Technology Consortium’s February 29th meeting, and the Manufacturing Consortium’s March 20th meeting.
The sector-specific Workforce Ready Grant RFAs will be posted on the HECC’s Grant and Contract Opportunities web page this spring. Sign up to receive HECC press releases and announcements to be notified when the RFAs open. We will also share more information in future issues of this newsletter.
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 Prosperity 10,000 Spotlight on Lane Workforce Partnership
Empowering Lane County's Workforce: The Success of the Lanz Cabinets and Catholic Community Services Partnership
Future Ready Oregon included $35 million for Prosperity 10,000, providing funding for Oregon’s nine local workforce development boards to expand opportunities for Oregonians to jumpstart and advance their careers in high-demand industries and occupations. In this installment of our Prosperity 10,000 Spotlight series, we are pleased to feature Lane Workforce Partnership (LWP), the local workforce development board serving Lane County, and two LWP grantees, Lanz Cabinets and Catholic Community Services. These organizations jointly received a Prosperity 10,000 subaward from LWP to provide manufacturing training and wraparound services to Lanz Cabinets employees.
LWP has been using the Prosperity 10,000 program to drive growth and prosperity in Lane County. The success of these efforts serves as a testament to the effectiveness of strategic investments in workforce development. Through related initiatives such as LWP’s Customized Training Solutions, businesses can harness the full potential of their workforce while simultaneously addressing critical social service needs. A standout example is the partnership between LWP, Lanz Cabinets, and Catholic Community Services.
Lanz Cabinets, a local family-owned cabinet manufacturer with over 60 years of history, recognized the importance of addressing employee retention. Lanz Cabinets developed a formalized training program that allowed them to hire individuals with low to no experience in manufacturing; however, many new hires have challenges outside of the workplace that were impacting their employment. A unique partnership with Catholic Community Services supports new hires, in turn improving retention.
Catholic Community Services, a Eugene-based nonprofit known for providing immediate assistance to those in need, provided one-on-one services for three key areas affecting Lanz Cabinets’ employee retention: food insecurity, transportation, and housing. Catholic Community Services also was instrumental in providing language and translation services, opening up new avenues into the workforce for immigrants and non-English speakers. The collaboration resulted in 32 Lanz Cabinet employees receiving comprehensive wraparound case management from Catholic Community Services. This holistic approach addresses the unique needs of each employee, providing personalized assistance, guidance, and resources.
“This innovative partnership has not only transformed the lives of Lanz Cabinets employees but has also significantly contributed to the economic prosperity of the region,” reports Ashley Espinoza, LWP’s executive director. “Through the efforts of both organizations, the results have been remarkable. Employee retention rates have soared, with 90 percent of participants in the program remaining employed at Lanz Cabinets. The program’s impact extends beyond the workplace, offering a lifeline to individuals facing unforeseen challenges, such as housing instability and personal loss.”
The success of this partnership underscores the power of collaboration between businesses and social service organizations in addressing complex workforce challenges. By investing in the well-being and professional development of employees, businesses not only enhance their bottom line but also contribute to the overall prosperity of the community.
Espinoza shares, “We hope that the success of the Lanz Cabinets and Catholic Community Services partnership serves as a beacon to other partnerships, demonstrating the positive outcomes that can be achieved through innovative collaborations and a commitment to supporting employees' holistic well-being.”
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Upcoming Public Events
Industry Consortia: Quarterly Public Meetings
- Tuesday, April 2, Healthcare Industry Consortium Quarterly Public Meeting: 12:00 – 3:30 p.m., Oregon Institute of Technology Wilsonville Campus
- Tuesday, May 21, Technology Industry Consortium Quarterly Public Meeting: time and location TBD
- Tuesday, June 18, Manufacturing Industry Consortium Quarterly Public Meeting: 1:00 – 4:30 p.m., location TBD
Visit the Industry Consortia web page for more information and click here to subscribe to the Industry Consortia public meeting notices.
Workforce and Talent Development Board: Oregon Talent Summit
The Workforce and Talent Development Board invites you to save the date for the Oregon Talent Summit this coming May 14-15, 2024, at the Salem Convention Center. Join fellow business, workforce, community-based organization, education, and economic development leaders at an extraordinary opportunity to learn about and discuss the implications of critical trends, challenges, and opportunities. Explore how these will shape and transform education and training initiatives that advance Oregon's economic competitiveness and provide equitable opportunities for prosperity to Oregon's diverse workforce.
The Summit will have four tracks designed to address key areas of workforce development, including a Future Ready Oregon track.
Stay tuned for a website and registration opening and new speaker announcements in the coming weeks, and we hope to see you there. To sign up for updates, email: oregontalentsummit@confluencec.com.
Future Ready Oregon Announcements and News Coverage
Announcements
The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Apprenticeship and Training Division has announced its Future Ready Oregon Round Four Grant Awards. This funding represents the most recent Future Ready Oregon investments in registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships administered exclusively by BOLI. Learn more about Future Ready Oregon grant programs administered by HECC and its partners here.
In the News
Training program helps Portlanders find new careers in health care. – February 20, 2024. OHSU. By Franny White. “A new program that aims to grow and diversify the health care workforce will provide 86 Portland-area residents free education and training…”
Work support on wheels. – February 28, 2024. My Oregon News. (Originally published in Future Ready Oregon Update, January 24, 2024.) “Beginning this spring, job seekers, students, and workers throughout Central Oregon can expect WorkSource Oregon services to come to them…”
Future Ready Oregon in the News contains links to news content that includes information created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of the HECC. The content represents a selection of recent coverage from reputable, non-partisan media sources and institutional or government partners. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of information available via these links.
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