How workforce training and wage support helped an Eastern Oregon employer build skills, retain workers, and strengthen its business.

For Hodgen Distributing, a beer and wine distributor serving seven counties in Eastern Oregon, employees are the foundation of the business.

But like many employers, the Pendleton-based company has faced challenges finding qualified candidates, providing training, and retaining workers.

Owner and President Justin Strano wasn’t initially aware of the workforce development resources available to help. That changed when a contact at Training and Employment Consortium (TEC) introduced him to programs designed to support local employers.

Through its partnership with workforce organizations, Hodgen Distributing discovered opportunities to help fund employee training and wages, making it easier to invest in the people who keep the business running.

Training That Strengthens Retention

One particularly valuable resource was commercial driver’s license (CDL) training.

For a distribution company that relies on skilled drivers, helping employees earn their CDLs offered a way to develop talent while creating opportunities for workers to advance their careers.

Hodgen Distributing enrolled four employees in the training program, and the company reported 100% retention among those four employees.

For participating workers, CDL training also opened doors to greater earning potential and long-term career opportunities in an industry with ongoing demand for qualified drivers.

For Strano, the results demonstrated the value of investing in employees rather than continually searching for new candidates.

The experience also motivated him to spread the word to other businesses.

Many employers he speaks with are surprised to learn that workforce programs can help cover employee wages and training costs.

By connecting Hodgen Distributing with these resources, workforce partners helped the company address immediate staffing challenges while investing in its employees’ futures.

The partnership offers a practical example of how workforce development supports local businesses, particularly in rural communities where finding and retaining skilled workers can be difficult.

And as Strano has discovered, sometimes the first step toward a stronger workforce is simply knowing what resources are available.

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