OREGON CITY – Clackamas Community College was recently awarded a $100,000 grant from the Oregon Business Development Department to develop a statewide Spanish construction contractor certification program. This innovative program will expand access to high-wage careers in construction for Spanish-speaking individuals across Oregon.

Oregon's construction industry is booming, with growth expected to outpace national averages significantly.  However, meeting this demand with a qualified workforce is challenging. This grant directly addresses this need by:

• Increasing the number of Spanish-speaking contractors: The program aims to certify an additional 60 Spanish-speaking contractors in the first year, with a long-term goal of 400 annually.
• Fostering a more equitable construction industry: By providing training in Spanish, the program empowers those for whom English is not their first language to participate in and contribute to the construction industry's growth.

Clackamas Community College’s Small Business Development Center has a track record of success in this area.  The college currently offers the only state-approved construction contractor certification course that can teach and test in Oregon.  Since partnering with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB), they've increased Latino pass rates from 30% to 70%.

The grant will fund the development of a comprehensive Spanish construction contractor certification program, including:

• Video-on-demand training: A high-quality, digitized 16-hour course accessible to students statewide.
• Statewide proctoring system: A robust system ensuring all proctoring meets college and national SBDC standards.
• Outreach and marketing: A targeted campaign to raise awareness of the program within the Spanish-speaking community.
• Faculty support: Hiring a bilingual faculty member to support program delivery.

“CCC is proud to be awarded this grant to develop a program that will create a more inclusive construction industry,” Rob Campbell, SBDC director at Clackamas Community College, said. “This innovative program will address the critical need for skilled workers while empowering Spanish-speaking individuals to pursue rewarding careers in construction.”

The project is designed for long-term sustainability. By the grant's conclusion, a robust, self-sufficient Spanish certification program will be available at SBDC locations across Oregon.

For more information about CCC’s Small Business Development Center, visit www.clackamas.edu/SBDC. 

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