| OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program |
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| Web Brief (Dec 05) |
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Gov. Ted Kulongoski presents a $150,000 check to PCC.
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Governor presents $150,000 to PCC in support of ODOT's workforce diversity efforts
One of ODOT’s primary goals on the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program is to build a diverse, qualified workforce for the heavy highway construction industry—now and in the future. As part of this initiative, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski recently presented $150,000 to the Portland Community College Cascade Campus Skills Center to help expand training and apprenticeship opportunities for women and minorities in transportation construction.
Based on an agreement between ODOT and PCC, the Skills Center will identify students interested in careers in heavy highway construction and help them gain basic and technical skills, including 300 hours of training in heavy transportation construction.
“Oregon ranks among the top five states nationally in construction job growth. This agreement will help us build on our success by creating employment opportunities in highway construction trades for more of our citizens—particularly women and minorities,” Kulongoski said. “Through this state and local partnership, we are not only expanding family-wage job opportunities for individual citizens, but we are advancing our efforts to ensure that all communities throughout the state benefit from the Oregon Transportation Investment Act and other important transportation programs.”
The PCC agreement is part of ODOT’s Workforce Development Plan. The goals of this two-year pilot project are to increase apprenticeship targets from the current 5 percent to 20 percent, and boost participation in transportation construction projects in the Portland tri-county area to 14 percent employment for women and 20 percent for minority workers. This will help ensure that a qualified and diverse labor pool is ready to meet contractor needs for federally and state-funded transportation projects.
Having a skilled and diverse workforce is critical for Oregon’s continued economic health. Jobs in the construction industry represent a consistent source of good wages and sustainable employment. The PCC program will help develop skills in more than 30 crafts, including ironworkers, operating engineers, carpenters, electricians, laborers and cement masons.
ODOT’s Workforce Development Plan was developed in partnership with the Bureau of Labor and Industries, Oregon Employment Department, Community Colleges and Workforce Development, and other agencies and community groups.
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