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By Melody Finnemore

“The help that I received from Future Ready Oregon was just like, best timing, best everything … because of everything they helped me out with, I was just more than grateful. I was helped a lot. It’s just been positive. I’m still in shock how much help I received for me to continue learning.” – Clackamas Community College student who asked to remain anonymous.

Education Northwest conducted an evaluation for Clackamas Community College about the impacts of its Career Pathways certificates and programs and the Future Ready Oregon grant funding it received. The grant funding is part of a comprehensive $200 million investment package approved during the 2022 legislative session that supports the education and training Oregonians need for family-wage careers.

The package includes strategic and targeted investments focused on advancing opportunities for historically underserved communities. It originated in the Racial Justice Council’s Workforce Workgroup, and is intended to bolster recruitment, retention and career advancement opportunities for priority populations.

Many of the funds will be administered through the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, working with local workforce development boards, employers and communities. Future Ready Oregon enables Oregon’s community colleges to build on the established success of the Career Pathways program, a statewide initiative with a nearly two-decade track record of successfully fast-tracking people into family-wage careers.

Future Ready Oregon enables community colleges to build on the established success of the Career Pathways program. Photo courtesy of CCC.

Career Pathways supports historically underserved communities through its Integrated Education and Training options. These allow non-native English speakers, high-school equivalency graduates and students who need extra support in reading, writing and math to integrate their basic studies with workforce training. The program boasts a statewide graduation rate of 89 percent.

Future Ready Oregon’s Workforce Ready Grant program investment of $95 million is the largest component of the $200 million package, providing direct financial support and wraparound services to jobseekers in the healthcare, manufacturing and technology industries.

Of the $200 million, $15 million in grants is allocated for Oregon’s 17 community colleges for the development and support of postsecondary career pathway training programs. CCC received a $980,919 Postsecondary Career Pathway Training Program grant, which in part will help with tuition and fees for low-income students as well as wraparound services.

Britany Ellerbrook, CCC’s Career Pathways director, said about 120 students received support for tuition, with an average award of about $900. CCC has welding and manufacturing apprenticeship programs, and the funding supported apprentices for those career technical education fields.
Although students rated tuition and fees as the most important areas for financial support, several students also shared how important funding has been for expenses like laptops, books, welding helmets and other equipment.

CCC received a $980,919 Postsecondary Career Pathway Training Program grant. Photo courtesy of CCC.

Ellerbrook said the grant was broad enough to cover other expenses such as rent, car repairs, gas, child care, eye exams and glasses, and other support during unexpected emergencies. These are daily needs that can prevent someone from furthering their education if they can’t get to class and focus on their education, she noted.

“I think we’re all feeling the pinch of inflation. The cost of living is increasing and the cost of housing is increasing, so all of these are things that support students in finding and staying on that path,” Ellerbrook said. “The funding has been beneficial for the college, the community and, above all, for the students.”

Portland Community College received just over $2.84 million to support its low-income students as well as those who are women, veterans and members of LGBTQ+ communities. Its Future Ready Oregon funding is primarily being used for advanced manufacturing training, with $300,000 dedicated to machine manufacturing.

Another $2.8 million will support PCC’s pilot program for the reinstatement of Pell Grants for academically eligible, incarcerated students at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

Mt. Hood Community College received nearly $1.1 million to develop new certificates in welding and construction along with equipment upgrades.
Other recipients of Career Pathways grant funding included Blue Mountain CC; Columbia Gorge CC; Central Oregon CC; Chemeketa CC; Clatsop CC; Klamath CC; Linn Benton CC; Lane CC; Oregon Coast CC; Rogue CC; Southwestern Oregon CC; Tillamook Bay CC; Treasure Valley CC; and Umpqua CC.

Melody Finnemore is a Portland-area freelance writer.

Apprenticeship programs at Clackamas Community College received a boost from Future Ready Oregon grants. Photo courtesy of CCC.