our purpose
representing community leaders, business, education, workforce, and elected officials
who are we?
The core members of the Association are made up of the nine Executive Directors from each region.
How does this work?
The Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) is comprised of over 200 community leaders representing business, education, workforce, and elected officials from Oregon’s nine Local Workforce Development areas. These nine areas support locally-driven decisions and programs. Oregon has an integrated one-stop service delivery built on a standardized model to provide a flexible, unified workforce education and training system that consistently exceeds customer expectations. Both state and local workforce boards are committed to keeping Oregon business and industry competitive in the global economy.
Oregon is part of the workforce development system that is funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which authorizes more than 550 local business-led workforce development boards that serve all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories to oversee workforce development services through a network of approximately 3,000 American Job Centers (also called One-Stop Career Centers).
Through WIOA, local civic, business, and workforce development leaders develop strategies that leverage funding and resources within their local communities to prepare and match the skills of workers with the workforce demands of businesses.
Collaborative Leadership for a Comprehensive System
The Oregon Workforce Partnership (OWP) is a non-partisan, private/public, statewide association committed to providing leadership that promotes and advances Oregon’s workforce system. Our membership is comprised of the leaders of Oregon’s nine Local Workforce Boards (LWBs), and we are ready to build a comprehensive workforce system that supports better alignment of resources, increased coordination among programs, and improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to all Oregonians.
Among other strategies, we will engage with stakeholders in a meaningful way to educate them about workforce priorities, challenges, resources and solutions; we will enhance local systems by pursuing coordination, resource sharing and the reduction of duplicated services; and we will inspire innovation.
Our Goals
> Advocate
Advocate.
- Engage and inform stakeholders about priorities, challenges, resources and solutions.
- Build awareness of the Local Workforce Boards and their value proposition.
- Formulate and communicate policy positions at both the state and federal levels
> Collaborate
Collaborate.
- Pursue coordination, resource sharing and the reduction of duplicated services.
- Convene partners to shape a high-performing, business-driven, workforce system.
- Develop strategic relationships to improve the system.
> Inspire
Inspire.
- Inspire innovation by highlighting proven and promising practices.
- Increase system capacity.
- Demonstrate effectiveness through continuous improvement.
> Innovate
Innovate.
- Embrace emerging technologies
- Pilot new programs
- Encourage creative problem-solving
Our Mission
Champion workforce development for Oregon.
Our Vision
Oregon’s workforce system is visible, effective, and innovative.
Our Focus
Oregon Workforce Partnership recognizes that our impact is magnified when we embrace people’s unique talents. As statewide leaders in workforce, we work to ensure all Oregonians possess the resources needed to develop the talent for our communities to thrive and prosper. We believe every individual, regardless of their race, sexual orientation, ability, culture, color, age, or other distinguishing characteristic, has a right to the same opportunity to obtain quality, living-wage employment, entrepreneurship, or employment-related training to reach their unique goals.
Select a county to visit its Local Area Board website.
Role of Workforce Development Boards
The role of workforce development boards is vital in economic growth and societal progress. At the heart of this endeavor lie workforce boards, organizations dedicated to aligning the needs of employers with the skills and aspirations of workers. In this article, we delve into why workforce boards are recognized as experts in workforce development and explore the methodologies they employ to foster a thriving workforce ecosystem.
responding to needs
Building and sustaining the skilled workforce needed to support a thriving community takes broad partnerships, creative thinking, smart policies and innovative solutions tailored to the specific workforce needs of people and businesses. Oregon’s Local Workforce Boards manage resources to fund programs and build partnerships that help get and keep people working. We maximize investments to build a workforce that meets the needs of key industry sectors and creates opportunity for those who need it most. We are committed to building a public workforce system that is accessible and effective for all. Our strongest asset is our network of partners. We bring together employers, labor groups, government, community colleges, high schools, community-based and economic development organizations, creating a network of collaborators you can’t find anywhere else. By working together, our economy grows, our pool of homegrown talent grows, and our competitive edge grows.
leadership
Georgia Conrad is the Executive Director of the Oregon Workforce Partnership and the Oregon Employment and Training Association. An accomplished entrepreneur, she holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and has over 15 years of experience in non-profit administration. Georgia has been instrumental in shaping policies and programs that enhance employment opportunities across the state. She has a proven track record of collaborating with local businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies to create innovative training and employment solutions. Under her leadership, both organizations have driven business developments, enacted policy changes, and fostered statewide collaboration, building consensus across urban and rural divides to ensure that Oregon’s workforce is well-prepared for the demands of a dynamic economy. Georgia’s dedication to community engagement and her strategic vision make her a pivotal figure in Oregon’s workforce development landscape.
