Green Building Initiatives

CAWS, in partnership with Worksystems, Inc., is going Green.

The construction trades identified the need to provide training in green principles and practices for construction workers who have been laid off.  In response, CAWS is coordinating Worksystems’ investments in training opportunities specifically designed to skill up employed and unemployed workers to get them back to work sooner and make them that much more competitive when the demand picks back up.  As current members are skilled up and return to work and demand picks up, there will be more opportunities for new workers to enter the trades.

RFQ: Clean Energy Works Portland - Qualified Training Programs

January 7th, 2009

A highly skilled workforce is an essential component to the success of the Clean Energy Works Portland pilot program and any subsequent “scale-up” of the project. In order to ensure the highest quality of work performed, the Community Workforce Agreement, created by a broad stakeholder group and endorsed by the Portland City Council, requires that installer/technician level employees be hired through “qualified training programs”.

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications is to identify interested and qualified entity(s) to deliver installer/technician level training for entry level workers for the Clean Energy Works: Portland Pilot program.

Several criteria have been established that must be met in order to achieve this designation. “The Qualified Training Program Criteria” pdf outlines criteria developed with the success of the program and interest of the community in mind. Please review the full RFQ announcement and respond on how your training program does or perhaps will comply with each of the identified criteria.

Training Programs seeking to apply for designation as a qualified trainer for Clean Energy Works Portland must also demonstrate that their weatherization installer program meets United States Department of Energy Core Competencies. These core competencies are outlined below in the Qualified Training Program Criteria PDF. Programs are required to produce documentation that their curriculum meets these standards and that it has been produced by an accredited organization.

Responses are due by January 20th in order to be considered for designation as a qualified training program for Phase III of the pilot program. Programs meeting the criteria for Designation will be notified by January 22nd 2010. Future program submissions will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, interested training programs will have an ongoing opportunity to apply for designation as a qualified training program under the Community Workforce Agreement for future hiring needs.

Qualified Trainin Programs - RFQ

Qualified Training Programs - Criteria

Qualified Training Programs Cover Sheet

CAWS Green Building Initiatives

Clean Energy Works Portland - Community Workforce Agreement

CAWS is currently working in conjunction with the City of Portland, Multnomah County, ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia, Energy Trust of Oregon, NW Natural, Pacific Power and Portland General Electric, on a 500 home energy efficiency and weatherization pilot program intended to enable homeowners to access low-interest, long-term financing for quick, easy and affordable investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In setting the standard for community engagement, the Clean Energy Works Portland Pilot Program is developing a Community Workforce Agreement that will set a standard on removing workforce barriers on the project and creating high quality standards that will benefit under-represented communities and Portland area homeowners alike.

For more information on the City of Portland Clean Energy Works Program click here.

Greening of Registered Apprenticeships

The Office of Apprenticeship is excited to announce the release of a report that highlights the role of the Registered Apprenticeship system in the burgeoning green economy.  The report, "The Greening of Registered Apprenticeship: An Environmental Scan of the Impact of Green Jobs on Registered Apprenticeship and Implications for Workforce Development," details the trends and activities of industries expected to drive the emerging green economy and focuses on three key areas:  1.) Assessing the Impact of green in key industries; 2.) Training and Education requirements for a green economy; and 3.) Partnerships and collaborations designed to meet the rapidly changing market for green.

National leaders from among Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, made up of businesses, labor management organizations and others, were interviewed to help identify the steps they are taking to prepare the U.S. workforce for the demands of a green economy.  The report provides a great opportunity to better understand the impact of a green economy and help direct policy development for green-related initiatives, and is now available through the Registered Apprenticeship Community of Practice. 

Click here to download the Full Report - PDF

Green Futures / Green Building Pathway

To prepare interested job seekers from all readiness levels and communities; Worksystems is working with the Construction Industry Skill Panel through CAWS and local training providers to build an articulated Green Futures Pathway, a continuum of training opportunities leading to employment in Green Building.  Based on experience and aptitude, individuals can enter the pathway at various points to receive a range of academic skills remediation services, short and/or long term occupational training leading to certification or degrees.  This program offers opportunities that are appropriate for people at various skill levels.  It will offer a bridge out of poverty as well as an opportunity to retool highly skilled dislocated workers to take advantage of green jobs.

Green Building On-the-Job Training

Worksystems is using On-The-Job Training (OJT) investments to provide area jobseekers that have some experience and training in the industry and an interest in a career in green building trades with access to employment with businesses involved in Green Building projects.  CAWS will be working to identify a pool of qualified workers and match them to a pool of interested employers involved in Green Building projects through the WorkSource Portland Metro System.

Pathways out of Poverty Grants

CAWS in partnership with WSI will be convening a group of community based organizations, training providers, labor representatives and employers, in response to the Department of Labor’s $150 million Pathways Out of Poverty Grants that integrate training and supportive services into cohesive programs that will help target populations find pathways out of poverty and into economic self‐sufficiency through employment in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

The Greening of Oregon’s Workforce: Jobs, Wages, and Training

A powerpoint presentation given by Worksource Oregon to the Oregon Workforce Investment Board. The purpose of the report was to determine workforce implications of green jobs in Oregon.

Green Report by Worksouce Employment Department - PDF