Willamette Workforce Partnership E-News – October 2024

Willamette Workforce Partnership is seeking experienced training providers to deliver leadership and supervisory development training in Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties. The Request for Quotes and Qualifications (RFQQ) opens today, October 1st! You will find more information and the application on our website and through our social media pages.

Willamette Workforce Partnership’s (WWP’s) E-Shop Builders Bootcamp, funded jointly by the Portland General Electric Foundation (PGE), and WWP, took place on three Mondays in September for a total of 6 hours. WWP responded to PGE’s call for proposals for its Community Grant. The bootcamp was open to businesses registered with the State of Oregon with markets in Marion County. The aim was to select BIPOC and underrepresented business owners to participate. Twenty participants attended the bootcamp and the businesses represented were a mix of products and services. For example, a small payroll and bookkeeping company looking to grow its client base, a coaching and consulting business with a bilingual and bicultural approach and an exterior cleaning company that pressure washes full houses, gutters, and driveways, among other things.

This intensive in-person training program focused on teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners how to build, manage and optimize online stores (e-shops) and covered such topics as branding, choosing a content management system (CMS) platform and marketing planning. It provided the opportunity for participating businesses to re-evaluate their business operations and presence on platforms, evaluate their websites to ensure they aligned with their operations, and offered a safe space for businesses to network, share feedback and receive constructive criticism.

The E-Shop Builders Bootcamp was facilitated by Sarah Whitney, CEO of Stylechilde who specializes in helping businesses improve their online sales processes to grow profit margins. Sarah had the following to say about her experience facilitating the program. “We’ve just wrapped up all three sessions of our bootcamp, and it was a fantastic success! Participants asked great questions, shared their own experiences, and even presented their branding work—one business showcased their style guide from session one, which was a total highlight. Everyone learned so much from each other, whether they were service-based or product-based. It was an engaging, high-energy environment, and I’m excited to see what everyone does next!”

Bootcamp Participants, Instructor and WWP’s Ami Maceira and Dean Craig

WWP aligns workforce development with economic growth, acknowledging the vitality and ability of area businesses to create jobs that result in community prosperity. With the funding received from the PGE Foundation, WWP was able to offer this meaningful program. A heartfelt thank you to PGE for their generous grant and congratulations to the graduates of e-Shop Builders Bootcamp!

Bootcamp participants had this to say about their experience in the training:

“I received valuable insight into branding, e-commerce and marketing to enhance my online presence overall!”
Your Content Goes Here, Your Content Goes Here
“Through this course/bootcamp I was given a lot of info and direction. I’m more motivated to explore avenues that I have been a little fearful of like YouTube. I really enjoyed this and it has gone above and beyond what I expected.”
Your Content Goes Here, Your Content Goes Here
“The program was great and very informative. I’m very grateful to be able to participate. There’s so much knowledge. I feel inspired to rework my business and feel more empowered to do well.”
Your Content Goes Here, Your Content Goes Here
“The program was great and very informative. I’m very grateful to be able to participate. There’s so much knowledge. I feel inspired to rework my business and feel more empowered to do well.”
“I'm very grateful to be able to participate.”, Your Content Goes Here

Participating Businesses & Websites

ARK Foundation

Oasis Payroll & Bookkeeping

Lucy Escobar Coaching & Consulting, LLC.

Gatsby

Little Leaf Cafe

Be Bold Body Spa

CreativiTee & Rofe Designs

Building My Vocal Nation

FreeWildShe

Work Ready Magazine – is Ready!

Willamette Workforce Partnership (WWP), in cooperation with the WorkSource Oregon, created an online and print magazine, Work Ready, to broadly communicate the topics covered in WorkSource Oregon’s Work Ready Standards Program. Specifically, the magazine covers career exploration, resume building, interviewing, and becoming work ready, among other relevant content.

Ami Maceira, WWP’s Program Director and magazine creator stated, “The purpose of the magazine is to give job seekers up-to-date information on how to find work and to promote WorkSource services.” In addition to publishing the magazine, WWP will create bite-sized social media posts based on magazine content.