On The Job Training Program Provides Lasting
Benefits For Business, Job Seekers
Through a unique publii private sector partners), p rh- on the jo b training program is pro
viding invaluable to em ployers m d , r> eefcers in the east M ultnom ah and W ashington
County areas
Over the past 2 S years, the program has assisted over 1500 job seekers and hundreds of
businesses
Funded by the M ultnom ah W ashington Private Industry Council (through the
Federal Job Training Partnership A ct or JTPA) and managed by the Beaverton, Gresham and
Hillsboro Chambers o f Commerce, the program focuses on providing an effective w orkforce
for employers while defraying the cost of training employees
There are several employer incentives for using the proqram including reimbursem ent of
half of employees framing wages The type of job and the qualifications of the employee deter
mine the length of the training periods, w hich run from 30 180 days These programs are tai
lored to fit the needs of both the employers and the employees Employers also reap the bene
fits of being able to streamline the hiring process arid ret eiving pre screened applicants Busi
nesses retain total control throughout this process and make all decisions related to hiring,
firing, etc
One of the many success stories from the OJT program is Tracey Turner of Gresham.
Tracey is a single parent w ith tw o children w ho until re< ently had been a homemaker for seven
years When Tracey and her husband divorced, she was laced w ith the problem of supporting
herself and her tw o children Tracey did receive child support, but $400 00 a m onth was not
enough for hei family to survive on The welfare cut o ff for a fam ily of three is $397 00, just
three dollars less than she was receiving in child support Tracey w ent to the Gresham Cham
ber of Commerce for help. The Chamber helped her enroll in Project Self Sufficiency, a pro
gram for single parents through w hich she was able to obtain a "housing voucher” , w hich
helps pay the rent each m onth
W ith additional support services in the form o f transportation and job counseling, Tracey
was able to find an on the job training position as the assistant manager of Patti's Bridal Decor
and More in Gresham Tracey has learned a variety o f new skills including planning, catering
and customer service She is now able to support her fam ily and is looking forw ard to the
future w ith renewed hope
Tracey wasn't the only winner in this situation. Patti's Bridal Decoi and M o re got an e n th u ­
siastic and com m itted new employee and received a 50% reimbursement for Tiacey s training
wages. On the job training provides lasting benefits to employers and employees
To qualify as a participant in this program, applicants must meet certain income require
ments (specified under the JTPA ) and must be 18 years of age Employers wishing to hire a
trainee from this program must pay an approved hourly wage, must employ the trainee for at
least 32 hours each week and must display a com m itm ent for a long term em ploym ent situa
tion
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REAL FSTATE
Pag« 2 JOBS November 12, 1986
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(503) 288 0020
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