Manufacturing Workforce Resources

Manufacturing Workforce Resources

Are you an employer needing help to fill your talent pipeline? Are past methods that used to yield results not panning out in today’s labor market?

There are more resources available for employers to access the emerging workforce, help with recruiting employees and train existing or new employees than you might realize. To follow is a table that provides some basic information, and the narrative below shares details and contact information.


Tapping into the Emerging Workforce: Apprenticeships, CTE and Internships


High Desert Education Services District

HDESD works in ten counties throughout Oregon supporting STEM and CTE-related programs and services, including PATP and CTE programs.

  • Crook County High SchoolCTE programs in manufacturing, construction and more
  • Redmond HighschoolHigh Desert ESD, CTE
  • Bend HighHigh Desert ESD, CTE
  • Bend TechHigh Desert ESD, CTE
  • J-Bar-J Boys Ranch – a vocational program for adjudicated youth (boys ages 13-18) as part of the Boys RanchLearning Center, which is an accredited alternative school.  They teach hands-on subjects like construction and woodworking, mechanics, and robotics to help students build a future. Contact (541) 389-1409 

Youth CareereConnect Central Oregon logo

Youth CareerConnect

Youth CareerConnect (YCC) is a regional initiative that provides internship opportunities for high school and college age students. Local employers provide “real-world” work experience for students. YCC aims to achieve a “work-ready” labor force through successful placements of young adults in internships.

Larry Holeman | 541-815-5005

Debbie Taylor | 541-408-1308

Heart of Oregon Corps (HOC)

The YouthBuild pre-apprenticeship model prepares young people to be qualified/competitive applicants for a registered apprenticeship program or to begin employment in the skilled trades. Students will build one affordable single-family home during their construction training at HOC YouthBuild. Participants receive daily coaching, mentoring, and feedback concerning fundamental employment expectations of dependability, productivity, quality of work, and willingness to learn during jobsite and classroom instruction. Throughout the pre-apprenticeship, students complete a career portfolio including NCCER Core Curriculum Certificate of Completion, NCCER Blue Card, OSHA 10 Card, First Aid/CPR Card, high school diploma or GED, Algebra competency, and diploma credits in construction trade skills

Natalie Akers | 541-633-7834 

Youth Compass Program

The Youth Compass program provides opportunities for our communities’ young adults, ages 14-21, to access the supports and skills training necessary to become successful members of the workforce. Youth Compass Program focuses on education programs, career exploration, work experience, and job opportunities

Josh Lagalo | Youth Employment 

Youth Compass Program | 541-815-6893

Local 290 Pipefitters and Steamfitters Apprenticeship

The UA Local 290 Apprentice & Journeyman Training Institute offers five-year apprenticeships for Plumbers, Steamfitters and HVAC/R Service Technicians. The apprenticeship program is appropriate for high school graduates looking for something other than the traditional college route, those looking for a career change, or college graduates concerned with the difficult job market. After the application process, and once accepted into the apprenticeship program, each new apprentice is paired with a journeyman. The apprentice trains with the journeyman during the day, working for one of our contractors. Additional education and training opportunities are offered through four-year “earn and learn” apprenticeship programs, three-week pre-apprenticeship class, and community/school outreach programs.

Rhianna Johnson | 503-730-1218

Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute (PNCI)

Is a non-profit Statewide organization based in Portland with field training centers in Tangent and Redmond. Our union members receive both apprenticeship and skill advancement training. PNCI also offers State registered apprenticeship programs, at no cost to participants.

503-287-3708 | training@pnci.org


Help with Connecting to, Recruiting and Hiring Job Seekers


WorkSource East Cascades

WorkSource Bend and Redmond is part of Oregon’s workforce system and is a network of public and private partners (Oregon Employment Department, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation, Oregon Commission for the Blind, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Central Oregon Community College, and Easter Seals), who work together to effectively respond to workforce challenges through high-quality services to individuals and businesses to meet hiring needs, resulting in job attainment, retention, and advancement.

WorkSource Bend | 541-388-6070

WorkSource Redmond | 541-548-8196

Express Employment Professionals

Operating continuously in Central Oregon since 1984, the Central Oregon Express franchise is among the most experienced, full-service employment agencies in the region. Services include facilitated executive and professional searches, temporary staffing, and short or long-term contract work.

Chris Petty | Franchise Manager |
Office: 541-389-1505 | Cell: 503-720-7919

BBSI

Barrett Business Services, Inc., a publicly traded company based in Vancouver, WA, has been serving the region for more than a decade with a local office in Bend. The company offers a full array of services to employers including business strategy, HR, risk & safety, payroll administration, worker’s compensation, staffing & recruiting, tech solutions, and retirement benefits.

Rob Hambleton | Business Partner |
541-382-6946

Cardinal Services

Cardinal provides a host of services from its Bend office using their scale as a national business for solutions around staffing, payroll processing, HR advising and co-employment.

Aaron Trudel | Director of Sales

541-389-4259 x 2405

 

Staffing Partners

 

541-318-5950

Aerotek

Sister company to Tek Systems, Aerotek specializes in staffing solutions, professional and production talent for manufacturing employers via its Bend office.

Tiff Bilodeau | Senior Account Manager

541-639-3240

People Ready

755 NE 3rd St A, Bend, OR 97701

541-318-7340

Veteran’s Services

Local Veterans’ Employer Representatives (LVERs) assist businesses in meeting workforce needs with job-seeking veterans. As veterans themselves, LVERs use their knowledge and expertise to perform a wide range of duties on behalf of businesses specifically related to recruiting veterans, transitioning service members, and more.

They help:

  • Translate military experiences (primary and supplementary duties)
  • Connect companies with value-added incentives and other special veterans’ programs
  • On-site visits to learn more about business needs
  • HIRE Vets Medallion Program which recognizes employer efforts to recruit, employ, and retain veterans: https://www.hirevets.gov/
  • Many more services related to veteran recruitment and retention

Paul M. Messett | Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) | 541-388-6455

Mid Oregon Personnel

Also established in 1984, Mid Oregon has been serving the region’s workforce needs for nearly 40 years with employment offices in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville and historically has been a key source for the region’s manufacturing sector. Service to employers is grouped into professional staffing, industrial staffing and seasonal staffing.

Greg Lambert | Founder & President
541-447-1299

Sam Lambert | Vice President | 541-382-0445

PrideStaff

Since 2016, PrideStaff has served the tri-county region with temporary & contract staffing, temp-to-hire and direct hire recruitment for difficult to fill positions. This year, the firm has an additional offering, with its professional recruitment arm, G.A. Rogers & Associates.

Matt Ertle | CSP & Strategic Partner | 541-797-6941

All-Star Labor 

This Oregon-based firm has locations around the state, including Bend, providing clients with temp-to-hire, direct hire and temporary staffing services through its thorough and long-term approach to employee recruitment.

Scott Reynolds | Branch Manager

541-389-1718

TEK Systems

Focused on providing staffing solutions to the technology sector, using technology is a differentiator for Tek Systems among other workforce and professional search organizations in the region. The company has had a physical presence for about four years with a local office in Bend and has grown quickly with the region’s rapid overall growth of the tech sector.

458-206-2240

SELECTEMP

541-794-7931

NW Staffing

409 NE Greenwood Ave. #201

541-797-0147


Training Incentives


WOTC

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit designed to incentivize employers to hire individuals who face barriers to employment. Qualifying individuals include some veterans, or simply those who have been unemployed for an extended period. Participating employers lower their cost of doing business through reduced federal income tax liability.

How much and how often?

  • Tax credits range from a minimum of $1,500 to a maximum of $9,600 per hire
  • There is no limit to the number of WOTC qualifying individuals an employer can hire

Did you know?

  • WOTC tax credits certified for Oregon employers average over $95 million annually
  • The Oregon WOTC is web-based and automated for quick turnaround
  • They will meet virtually or in-person to answer any questions you may have

Complete the form and a member of the WOTC Unit will reach out to answer questions or help get you started. https://www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/Businesses/Pages/Work-Opportunity-Tax-Credit.aspx

Loren Petersen | 541-548-8196 ext. 327

WorkSource East Cascades

Employer Opportunities/Incentives

WorkSource East Cascades supports employers with incentive program opportunities for employers to receive financial assistance and tax incentives for training talent, recruiting candidates from specific populations who might experience barriers and offer multiple benefits, including business loan opportunities.

Incumbent Worker Training

Designed to help existing employees gain new skills and training that will enable them to advance and thereby open their job to new hires, East Cascades Works (the region’s professional staff support for the Workforce Investment Board (WIB)) has periodically provided cash grants to businesses.

Contact:

Heather Ficht – Executive Director
541-904-5070 heather@ecworks.comwww.ecworks.com

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Administered by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), this program offers an incentive to employers to hire new employees that need some level of training on the job.  That incentive can be as short as one month, up to six months.  The program provides partial reimbursement of actual training wages.   Based on current funding incentives have been in the range of $1,500 – $3,000 per employee, and there are a limited number of slots available.

Contacts:
Marnie Fordham, 541-699-8058, mfordham@coic.org
Jenny Porfily, (541)548-8196, jporfily@coic.org
Matthew Romero, 541.699.6028, mromero@coic.org

Have a resource to add to this list? Let us know here.