ORS 571.615 Workforce training assistance

The Oregon Business Development Department shall provide, or shall partially or fully fund the provision of, workforce training assistance to persons engaged in the business of western juniper harvesting or of manufacturing products from western juniper. The department shall provide or fund the training assistance to support the growth and development of a western juniper harvesting or related manufacturing business, including but not limited to supporting business by qualifying workers in harvesting, commercial driving and milling. The training assistance may be in standardized or customized form. If the department provides training assistance under this subsection or as part of a cooperative agreement under subsection (2) of this section, the department may provide the assistance directly or may enter into personal service contracts for qualified providers to render the assistance.

The department shall give preference to creating basic worker skills, but may also provide or fund training to assist in the maintenance or advancement of worker skills to ensure the viability of western juniper harvesting or related manufacturing businesses in this state. The department, the Employment Department, local governments as defined in ORS 174.116, nonprofit organizations and private associations may enter into cooperative agreements for:

Identifying the projected workforce needs of western juniper harvesting or related manufacturing businesses, potential workers for those businesses and the training needs of those potential workers; and

Providing workforce training assistance to meet the needs described in paragraph (a) of this subsection.

Workforce training assistance described in this section must be designed to increase the likelihood that individuals in the local areas near western juniper harvesting or related manufacturing businesses will have the necessary skill sets to obtain work in those businesses. The Oregon Business Development Department may give training assistance preference to individuals in the local areas who are unemployed.