91ÊÓƵ

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries this past Wednesday honored Portland-based nonprofit Clean Energy Works for efforts to create more construction jobs for women, minorities and veterans.

Clean Energy Works received the BOLI Workforce Champion Award – one of the bureau’s Business Leadership Awards.

The organization partners with contractors, labor unions and other nonprofits to provide Oregon homeowners with weatherization and other retrofit work aimed at improving home energy efficiency, Clean Energy Works spokeswoman Stephanie Swanson said. One of Clean Energy Works’ goals is to hire as many women, minorities and veterans as possible for its projects, she said. The BOLI recognition is a nice accolade for this effort, she said.

“It’s an extraordinary honor and it’s an indication of the very hard work not only of Clean Energy Works, but the local partners to really push job creation,” she said.

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian said BOLI officials were impressed that in the past three years women and minorities have completed 55 percent of all construction work hours for the organization’s projects. Also, more than 20 veterans have found work through Clean Energy Works programs, he said.

“They’ve really expanded the workers that they have, really providing opportunities for women and people of color,” Avakian said. “We believe they are the type of employer that’s going the extra mile to help hire more of these workers.”