Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 660 § 660.400 — Grant

Grant program for workforce programs in health care, manufacturing and technology sectors; wage standards for workforce program participants; rules. (1) As used in this section: (a) “Community-based organization” has the meaning given that term in ORS 660.390. (b) “Community college” has the meaning given that term in ORS 341.005. (c) “Workforce service provider” includes: (A) Nonprofit and public workforce education, training and career services providers. (B) Governmental entities that are providers of workforce development services. (2) There is established in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission a program to award grants to workforce service providers and community-based organizations that administer workforce programs in the health care, manufacturing and technology industry sectors and that prioritize equitable program participation by individuals from priority populations. (3) The commission shall establish criteria and standards by which a workforce service provider or a community-based organization may submit a proposal to receive a grant under this section. In establishing criteria and standards, the commission shall consider federal nondiscrimination and equal opportunity provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The commission shall award grants on a competitive basis, taking into consideration proposals that: (a) Describe how the workforce service provider or the community-based organization intends to engage with employers in the targeted industry sectors to provide workforce development opportunities to individuals from priority populations. (b) Demonstrate the workforce service provider’s or the community-based organization’s experience serving individuals from priority populations. (c) Describe how the workforce service provider or the community-based organization intends to collaborate with one or more of the following entities to increase accessibility for priority populations to workforce programs and opportunities: (A) Other workforce service providers or community-based organizations; (B) Kindergarten through grade 12 schools; (C) Community colleges; (D) Education and training partners; (E) Local workforce development boards; (F) Economic development organizations; (G) Industry associations; and (H) Universities, as defined in ORS 660.445. (d) Demonstrate that a workforce partner with which a workforce service provider or a community-based organization intends to partner possesses specific qualifications, including the organizational and technical capacity, necessary to carry out the purposes described under subsection (5)(a) to (d) of this section. (e) Prioritize opportunities to leverage the use of other funding sources, including federal funds and private sector contributions, toward workforce programs and opportunities. (4) In awarding grants under this section, the commission shall consult with the State Workforce and Talent Development Board and shall incorporate input from local workforce development boards and industry consortia convened under ORS 660.410. (5) Grant moneys awarded under this section shall be expended for one or more of the following purposes: (a) To provide paid work experience, including stipends and wages; (b) To offer tuition and fee assistance for workforce programs; (c) To provide wraparound workforce development services; (d) To develop culturally and linguistically specific career pathways for obtaining certificates, credentials or degrees recognized by targeted industry sectors; and (e) To fund organizational investments, including, but not limited to: (A) Hiring staff; (B) Developing organizational development strategies; (C) Purchasing equipment, technology or other training-related supplies; (D) Covering administrative costs; and (E) Any other activities identified in a grant proposal as necessary to administer workforce programs described under this section. (6)(a) If a grant recipient expends moneys to provide paid work experience to individuals participating in a workforce program administered by the grant recipient, the grant recipient shall: (A) Notwithstanding ORS 653.025, pay wages to individuals participating in the program at a rate that is: (i) Equivalent to an entry-level training wage as determined by the grant recipient pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subsection; and (ii) In alignment with the wage progression schedule established by the grant recipient under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph; (B) Establish a wage progression schedule that includes the step progression requirements and the rate calculation formula upon which the grant recipient shall make determinations about a participating individual’s eligibility to increase the individual’s wage rate from an entry-level training wage to a wage rate that is equivalent to the average area wage standard for an hour’s work in the same trade or occupation in the locality where the labor