Governor Kate Brown has signed Future Ready Oregon – the $200 million investment in workforce development. This initiative is a once in a generational opportunity to support businesses and offers workforce development services to individuals who have historically been marginalized. The pandemic most negatively impacted women, people of color, individuals who have been justice-involved, and others who experience barriers to employment. The pandemic uncovered systemic barriers that have been ever-present and now the state of Oregon has the opportunity to correct these trends. The Future Ready package was developed by a sub-committee of the Governor’s Racial Justice Council

Some of the Future Ready Oregon funds will come to workforce development boards through a formula, some through a competitive process. Community colleges and Community-Based Organizations will also receive funds. It is expected that Willamette Workforce Partnership will receive over $5M additional dollars to serve the community.

Kim Parker-Llerenas joins other Workforce Work Group members including the Co-Chairs, Patsy Richards and Marin Arreola during the Governor’s signing of the Future Ready Oregon bill.

What does this mean for our local community? While there are details that remain to be outlined, Willamette Workforce Partnership has received and signed a contract for an initial $1.9 M to begin implementation of this program. Our focus will be on funding community-based organizations and institutions of higher education that serve individuals with barriers to employment. The funding will support training individuals and offering a variety of supports to assure success, such as wage earnings while attending training, transportation expenses, child care, materials needed for training and work, etc. The funds will also support assistance in becoming gainfully employed. The benchmarks for this program are robust – we must serve 50% women and 75% of those we serve must gain employment at $17 an hour. This is how we will be successful! Please visit the WWP website for more details and to apply.