• Workforce Development

  • Successful Chamber Programs

    The following programs have been implemented by Chambers of Commerce in an effort to meet members’ workforce needs.
     

    Pipeline — Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

    The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce began this initiative by convening the Workforce Development Taskforce. During the process of defining the needs of local business and industry, the committee developed a plan to combine their efforts with local education to provide more comprehensive training options for local students. Also as a result of their efforts, Pipeline was developed to provide a single source for students, educators, parents and industry to access information and opportunity.

    Pipeline became a reality through the generous contributions of local business and industry members, along with financial and advisory assistance from Greater Albany Public Schools, Linn-Benton Community College and Linn County. Learn more

    Contact: Janet Steele — President, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce

     

    Oregon Wine Education Center — Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce

    The first dedicated center of its kind in the Northern Willamette Valley, the Oregon Wine and Hospitality Education Center hosts seminars, workshops and certification programs for wine and restaurant industry professionals and visitors.

    We focus on the richness of the Willamette Valley’s terroir, climate, winemakers and wines, (pinot noir included) as well as extend our vision to the entire world of quality wine and food hospitality industry. Learn more

    Contact: Carr Biggerstaff — Board Chair, Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce



    Steps Up Internship Program — Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce

    The Steps Up Chehalem Valley Internship program is a 9-week paid summer internship serving High School and College age students, 16–24 years old. The Internship includes four hours of paid Professional Development Training every week on Wednesday that will help prepare students for a bright future regardless of their career path. The program is modeled after the award-winning Climax internship program.

    Contact: Carr Biggerstaff — Board Chair, Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce

     

    WorkReady - Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

    The WorkReady program serves as a catalyst with school, business, and community partners to expand career-related learning experiences for students from area school districts. The experiences are designed to meet the needs of all K-12 students and promote engagement, explore career pathways, and plan for their future.

    The initiative provides business and industry partners a single point of contact to engage with education and help develop their future workforce specifically in high demand and high wage job opportunities.

    Contact: Vicki Moen - Director of WorkReady, Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce


    School to Career — Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce

    The School to Career program facilitates career-related learning experiences (CRLEs) for high school students and supports high school staff in college and career centers to guide their students to appropriate opportunities.  Since 1995, Hillsboro Chamber’s School to Career Program has been supporting local students by facilitating career days, career spotlight events, guest speakers, mock interviews, informational interviews, job shadows and ELOS (Experiential Learning Opportunities). Learn more

    Contact: Lisa Klingsporn — Director of School to Career, Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce

     

    #WorkReady — Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

    WorkReady is a three pillar community partnership between private sector employers, local government, and public K12 and community college education entities informed and inspired by two business-education summits convened by the Chamber and the local School District in late 2015 and early 2016. Central to the initiative is a common vision to cultivate a local pool of college, career, and workforce ready talent meeting the education, skills and training needed by local employers to fill high wage, high demand jobs. Learn more

    Contact: Paige Sharpe — Program Manager, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

     

    If you have a programs you would like to share with other OSCC members, please contact Jessica Chambers.

    Workforce Development Basics and Resources
     

    Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act — https://www.doleta.gov/wioa

    WIOA is landmark legislation that is designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. This site gives details about the Act.
     

    Planning guide for WIOA implementation — www.oregonlocalplanning.weebly.com

    As required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Oregon’s local workforce development boards (LWDBs) will be developing a four year local plan. The documents listed in this link clarify what the LWDBs must provide to the state in order to be compliant with federal and state requirements.
     

    Oregon Workforce Investment Board — http://www.oregon.gov/owib/Pages/index.aspx

    The Oregon Workforce Investment Board (OWIB) is the overall advisory board to the Governor on workforce matters. Appointed by the Governor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the OWIB is made up of leaders representing private business, labor, community-based organizations, Oregon legislature, local government, and state agencies. The majority of the 34 member board represent business.
     

    Oregon Workforce Partnership — http://www.oregonwfpartnership.org/

    The Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) is a non-partisan, private/public, statewide association whose mission is to build a more highly skilled workforce to support and expand the state’s economy. Partnership members, Oregon’s nine Local Workforce Investment Boards and agency partners, invest their resources to better align economic, education and training systems based on the needs of our businesses and communities.

    Learn about workforce innovations from OWP members and other workforce successes in Oregon at http://workforceinvestmentworks.com/oregon/index.asp
     

    Worksource Oregon — www.worksourceoregon.org

    WorkSource Oregon, the state’s public workforce system helps individuals get a job, increase skills, and explore training options. Oregonians looking for work should visit their nearest WorkSource Oregon Center to find staff and services dedicated to helping Oregonians get back to work. The Job Seeker Resources on this website are additional online resources to assist jobseekers.
     

    Small Business Development Center — www.bizcenter.org

    The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDCN) provides advising,training, online courses and resources for businesses throughout our state. Nineteen conveniently-located Centers assist business people in every aspect of business development and management.
     

    Oregon’s Regional Workforce Investment Boards — https://www.oregon.gov/owib/SP/Pages/default.aspx

    See a map showing the local Workforce Investment Boards and Sector Partnerships

  • Important Dates

     

  • Oregon Business - Strong Together