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 School – CTE programs in manufacturing, construction and more
- Redmond Highschool – High Desert ESD, CTE
- Bend High – High Desert ESD, CTE
- Bend Tech – High 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 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
Central Oregon Community College (COCC)
Manufacturing-related programs/training and pathways offered by Central Oregon Community College (COCC) for students/adults.
Degrees
- Manufacturing Machining Technician – Associate of Applied Science (AAS) – Pending Approval
- Welding – Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Certificates
- Manufacturing CNC Machine Operator – One-Year Certificate (CC1) – Pending Approval
- Manufacturing Technician – Career Pathway Certificate of Completion (CPCC)
- Welding – One-Year Certificate of Completion (CC1)
- Welding Technician- Career Pathway Certificate of Completion (CPCC)
Jack Stearns | Welding | 541-504-2933
Michael Perry | Machining | 541-504-2937
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.com | www.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