New Oregon Trails/ Regional Economic Impact Planning
In late 2009, The Oregon Consortium & Oregon Workforce Alliance began working on a collaborative effort to better align education and training with economic trends for rural Oregon. We believe that this collaboration will be a catalyst for positive change in rural communities keeping them livable, restoring prosperity and contributing to a brighter future.
The efforts of New Oregon Trails and this collaboration are being propelled by resources that are supporting a Regional Economic Impact planning process – funded through a US Department of Labor Regional Economic Impact – National Emergency Grant, received by the Consortium this spring. The goal of this planning effort is to build upon rural Oregon’s history of innovation and resourcefulness; to create increased levels of cooperation and coordination in order to expand and strengthen our influence to the benefit of rural communities; and influence and shape rural-serving public policy at local, state and national levels in positive ways. Click here for more information....
Oregon Green Technician Certificate
TOC/OWA has provided leadership in the development of the newly available Oregon Green Tech Certificate. By collaborating with 10 Oregon Community Colleges, the Oregon Workforce Alliance was able to access more than $2 Million and to assist the colleges in developing a statewide one-year certificate AKA The Oregon Green Tech Certificate. After months of work and development - with some nudging along the way - 58 students have been enrolled in the programs first cohort beginning Winter Term of 2011. Students will be receiving support and wrap-around services delivered by our experienced network of regional providers and WorkSource partners. Please click here to view more information about this exciting opportunity for rural citizens and communities -- including eligibility information and who to contact regardig enrollment.
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is a valuable, portable certificate that verifies three foundational skills--Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Locating Information. The NCRC is used by thousands of employers, employees and job applicants as a uniform measure of key workplace skills. It helps job applicants stand out from the crowd, and assures employers that applicants have the foundational skills needed to be successful on the job.
The NCRC is one of many tools that can assist us in achieving our organizational goals of skilling up rural citizens, business and industry to compete in the global economy! Our network of regional providers has taken the lead in deploying the certificate across our 24 county area and provide continued leadership to this new WorkSource Oregon undertaking.For additional information about Oregon's NCRC visit the Oregon NCRC website by clicking here.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
While the stimulus (ARRA) funding brings with it many opportunities it also brings with it a great deal of responsibility. The onus is on us to prove the merits of the publicly funded workforce system during this time of crisis.
We contracted with Oregon State University to complete a formal analysis of the investment of resources in the ARRA SYEP program last summer - review the report here.
A vision for 2012
TOC / OWA paused this past year to evaluate where they were headed and what it is that the organizations together wanted to achieve. The outcome of this process was a Vision for 2012. We invite you to review this vision and to share your skills, thoughts and efforts to assist us in seeing it to fruition.