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Workforce board outlines youth funding, apprenticeships and maritime plans for Columbia County

5592571 · July 9, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Northwest Oregon Works presented an overview of federal WIOA funding, youth programs, a state-backed behavioral health apprenticeship and one-time maritime funds aimed at training and placement in Columbia County, and answered commissioners' questions about local spending and provider capacity.

Heather Desart, executive director of Northwest Oregon Works, told the Columbia County Board of Commissioners on July 9 that the local workforce development board administers federal and state workforce funds and partners with community organizations to deliver training and job services in Columbia County.

Desart said the region’s funds flow from the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act through the state Higher Education Coordinating Commission and into local boards and local WorkSource centers, where community-based providers deliver training. “I’m not a PowerPoint slide reader,” Desart said during the presentation, and then outlined how the board acts as a pass-through and oversight body rather than a direct provider.

The presentation summarized several program areas relevant to Columbia County: adult, dislocated worker and youth WIOA funding; Future Ready Oregon allocations; youth reengagement grants; a BOLI-backed behavioral health registered apprenticeship; and maritime funds…

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