Construction Buzz

Find out what is happening in Oregon's Construction Industry.

Local news and articles, including press releases and commentaries related to CAWS Members and Industry Headlines.

Members and Industry Buzz

Vestas keeps HQ in Portland, moving to the Pearl

Wind turbine giant Vestas Wind Systems A/S on Wednesday said it will lease an old Meier & Frank warehouse in the Pearl District and turn it into a 172,000-square-foot gleaming new headquarters. Vestas received both state and city incentives for the $66 million project, which is expected to create 600 construction-related jobs.

Portland Business Journal - August 18, 2010

Fed up with the economy and white-collar drudgery, college grads turn to trades

More college-educated jump tracks to become skilled manual laborers. Select the link above to read this Washington Post article.

"Top Construction Jobs" Career Guide

Interested in pursuing a career in the construction industry? CAWS has created a career guide that provides wage, training and other useful information for the top construction jobs in the City of Portland, Multnomah and Washington Counties. Select the link above to view.

New Oregon Apprenticeship Website

The Oregon State Apprenticeship and Training Council (OSATC), chaired by Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Commissioner Brad Avakian, has officially launched a new, info-packed website to expand outreach to potential apprentices in Oregon. Avakian’s top priority as chief of BOLI is to strengthen workforce development and improve access to job opportunities for all Oregonians. The new website, a product of collaboration between various business, labor, government agency and community partners, is http://oregonapprenticeship.com.

Portland City Council Approves
Community Workforce Agreement To Support Equity And Workforce Goals For Clean Energy Works Portland

Portland, Ore – On September 30, 2009, the Portland City Council signed a Community Workforce Agreement that will lead to the creation of thousands of high-quality, family-supporting jobs for qualified, historically underrepresented contractors and workers in the clean-energy economy. The City and Clean Energy Works Portland stakeholders―including public, private, nonprofit, community, and labor institutions―collaborated to create this unprecedented agreement, establishing a set of sustainable contracting standards and community benefits.

CAWS is proud to have partnered with the City of Portland and other leading entities to craft this landmark agreement.

Download the Press Release from the City of Portland

Download the Community Workforce Agreement

Download the Portland City Council Resolution