NEWS RELEASE: BOLI Awards Final Major Contract Under Highway Workforce Development Program

[Kate Newhall]

Bureau of Labor and Industries
Commissioner Brad Avakian
 
Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
March 22, 2011
CONTACT: Kate Newhall, 503-467-1665
 
BOLI Awards Final Major Contract Under Highway Workforce Development
Program
Agreement with ACEAcademyrounds out comprehensive effort to remove
barriers to
employment, to diversify the workforce, and to keep Oregonians on the
job
 
PORTLAND – Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) today
announced that it has awarded the Academy for Architecture, Construction
& Engineering (ACE Academy) the final major contract under the 2011
BOLI-ODOT Heavy Highway Workforce Development Program.  
 
This statewide program will provide $1 million to support services that
increase diversity in the highway construction workforce and help
Oregonians gain and keep high-skill, living-wage jobs.
 
“Nothing is more important to Oregon’s economy than expanding job
opportunities for Oregon’s workers, and that’s what this program is all
about,” said BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian.  “I’m particularly excited
about our efforts to provide students with early training in the highway
trades, and our partnership with ACE will focus on knocking down
barriers that have traditionally stood in the way of young women
pursuing careers in the construction industry.”
 
Pursuant to its agreement with the state, ACE Academy will receive
$19,974 to provide students with two in-depth orientations to highway
construction careers, one this month, and one in June.  Participating
students will receive one-on-one tutoring, career mentoring, and
hands-on training with construction repair projects.
 
Previous agreements announced under the BOLI-ODOT program include: a
$633,265 contract with Cooper Zeitz to provide training and support
services statewide; a $172,870 contract with the Oregon and Southern
Idaho Laborers-Employers Training Trust to provide training and support
services statewide; a $101,313 contract with Portland Community College
to provide training and support in the Portland/METRO region; and a
$69,458 contract with Portland Youthbuilders focused on youth
pre-apprenticeship services in the Portland/METRO region.
 
“Each of these contracts will play an important role in helping us
develop a highly qualified construction workforce for the future,” said
Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett.  “This
program will open doors for Oregon workers, and it is a key part of our
commitment to strengthen our transportation infrastructure and reinforce
our economic foundation.” 
 
######
 
The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect
employment rights, 
advance employment opportunities, and protect access to housing and 
public accommodations free from discrimination.
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