14 • OCTOBER 2019
CEDR REPORT
COAST RIVER BUSINESS JOURNAL
Clatsop WORKS Internship
Program: Growing local
business talent since 2018
C
CEDR
Lois Perdue and the team at Hampton Warrenton Mill hosted CEDR/Clatsop CC Small Business Devel-
opment Center’s 29th annual Forestry Leaders Tour in September.
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onnecting talented youth with local
businesses is vital to our economy.
In fact, many North Coast busi-
nesses struggle to recruit and retain qual-
ified employees to keep things running
smoothly and in some cases, just to keep
the doors open. Students also often find
it difficult to find opportunities for career
exploration, especially for those looking to
stay close to home after graduating from
high school.
The Clatsop WORKS internship pro-
gram has both businesses and students in
mind, and is designed to build a stronger,
better trained, more employment-ready
local workforce, highlight to businesses
the presence and quality of the local work-
force, showcase the living-wage career
opportunities available in Clatsop County,
and help students narrow down career
options before choosing expensive paths
to college.
Clatsop WORKS not only helps busi-
nesses fill crucial positions, but it does so
by connecting them with local youth who
are invested in contributing to our local
community and have roots here in Clatsop
County.
Twenty-two Clatsop County students
recently completed paid, professional
internships at 13 host sites in healthcare,
forestry products & manufacturing, mar-
keting, public safety, retail, education, con-
struction, and more during Summer 2019.
The feedback from participating local
businesses has been very positive. As
one Summer 2019 host employer shared,
“These are very qualified and ambitious
students looking to build skills as they
move into college or post-college envi-
ronment.” Many Clatsop WORKS host
sites have participated since the program’s
inception in 2018 and have already seen
the positive impact on their organizations.
“This is our second year participating in
this wonderful program, and we have had
the good fortune of having two fantas-
tic interns. Last year’s intern was hired on
with us during the fall and continues with
us today.”
For many students, Clatsop WORKS
is their first exposure to the professional
workplace. As one student said, “I had the
opportunity to publish my work and build
KEVIN LEAHY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CEDR,
AND CLATSOP COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT CENTER
a portfolio of all my projects. I loved what
I did! I could use my creativity.” Another
intern appreciated the investment their host
employer made to create a fulfilling expe-
rience: “They fit the job to my strengths. It
was a wonderful experience.”
Interns also have the opportunity to net-
work with other businesses during weekly
professional development days, share
ideas with peers, learn important work-
place skills, and get the encouragement
and guidance necessary to succeed.
Now in its third year, Clatsop WORKS
is made possible through partnerships with
the schools districts of Astoria, Warren-
ton-Hammond, Knappa, Seaside, and Jew-
ell, Clatsop Community College, and the
Northwest Regional Educational Service
District.
Student and business recruitment is
now underway for Summer 2020!
If you’re a business owner interested in
recruiting local talent — look no further.
We ask our host sites to provide interns
with full-time work (at least minimum
wage) for the duration of our summer
internship program, along with a mentor to
offer guidance, support, and vital knowl-
edge specific to your field of work.
And, if you’re a Clatsop County high
school or college student (ages 16-plus)
and want to enhance your career explo-
ration and work experience, you’re in the
right place. Our Clatsop WORKS staff is
here to help you compete the application
process, write a resume, and prepare for
interviews. You can apply for several posi-
tions at businesses countywide using a sin-
gle Clatsop WORKS application.
Our applications for host sites and stu-
dents will open beginning Oct. 15, 2019.
The application deadline is Feb. 7, 2020.
Please apply at www.clatsopworks.com.
Please contact Ryan Stanley, Clatsop
WORKS coodinator, at 503-338-2507 for
more information.