One of AGC’s major victories during the 2011 Legislative Session was the passage of House Bill 3362. AGC, along with industry allies, successfully secured a $2 million grant program earmarked for career and technical education (CTE) opportunities. The bill, which was unanimously approved by both the Oregon House and Senate, also eliminated legal impediments to establishing charter schools similar to the Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE Academy). The passage of this legislation was a critical step towards strengthening the industry’s future workforce.
The Oregon Department of Education has just announced the CTE Revitalization Grant Program is now open to applicants. This is the grant program that comes from the passage of HB 3362. The grants are available through a request for proposal (RFP) process to school districts, education service districts, public schools, public charter schools, or any combination. Grant size requests can be between $50,000 and $500,000, and the funds are intended to develop, expand, or assess the ability of CTE programs to meet workforce needs and to give students the required skills for Oregon’s high demand and high paying jobs. The grant program is also intended to spark innovation and foster partnerships among schools and industry.
To access the grant application and additional information click here. If you have general questions about HB 3362 and/or AGC’s involvement please contact Allison Koenker. AGC Past President Andrew Beyer has also graciously offered to be a contact for additional information. Andrew sits on the CTE Revitalization Advisory Committee and can be contacted via email.