Proposed Project
TRAIN: Building the Workforce of the Future
Project Lead Organization:
Worksystems Inc.
Contact:
Hub Director Hub
Iain Macdonald, OSU
iain.macdonald@oregonstate.edu
Regional Innovation Officer
Marcus Kauffman, ODF
marcus.kauffman@odf.oregon.gov
The goal of this project is to develop a skilled, inclusive workforce across forestry, manufacturing, and construction.
Key Strategies:
- Conduct a regional needs assessment (WA, ID, MT) and align curricula across community colleges.
- Launch the Forest Workforce Education and Training Center (FWETC) to deliver K–12, post-secondary, and upskilling programs.
- Deploy mobile “classroom on a trailer” units to reach rural and tribal communities.
- Train 500 individuals, place 325 in jobs, and reach 3,500 high school students with mass timber content.
- Create a digital career and training portal to connect job seekers with opportunities.
Impact by 2035:
- 33,000 total jobs supported.
- Institutionalized training pathways embedded in public education and workforce systems.
- Rural economies stabilized through high-wage, high-skill job creation.