Oregon directs workforce grants toward training and job support

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission awards grants to local workforce boards, which distribute support for job services and paid work experiences. The services include career coaching, job training and placement, paid work experiences, and support such as transportation, child care, and rental assistance. The commission uses only money appropriated for the program. The program’s stated goals include having at least half of participants be women, 80 percent complete the program, and 75 percent obtain jobs.

A funded provider that offers paid work experience must set wages and wage steps, prepare a training plan, and give it to each participant. These rules apply when an entity receives program money from a local workforce board and provides participants with paid work experience. The entry wage must be at least the greater of the federal or state minimum wage; other laws or a union agreement may require higher pay. The wage steps must explain how a participant can qualify for pay up to the local average wage for the same trade or occupation. The provider gives each participant the plan on the day they begin the program.

The commission distributes program funds to local boards using the federal allocation formula, and the boards submit a joint yearly progress report. The report goes to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the State Workforce and Talent Development Board. The report breaks out data by race, gender, and location. To the extent possible, the Department of Human Services includes the program in the statewide food assistance employment plan, seeks federal reimbursement, and refers food assistance recipients to the program. The joint report is due by October 31 each year.