Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Bond measure would mean facilities on Max line, in Newberg and in Sherwood

Photos and story by Dana Haynes

Hey. I’ve been writing this week about what-all the bond would bring to each existing campus: Sylvania, Rock Creek, Cascade and the Southeast Center.

But what about the rest of our ginormous, 1,500-square-mile district? Remember, the PCC district is roughly the same size as Rhode Island! We take up all or parts of five counties (can you name them?) and our footprint covers 13 K-12 school districts.

Some of the outlying areas might be asking: What have you done for us lately? And the answer would be:

• Willow Creek: This would be the new location for the Washington County Workforce Training Center. Here, we’d provide the skills needed by the unemployed to get them into the workforce. Located on the Max transit line and bus lines, it means easy access for our clients. And our partners, besides TriMet, include the Oregon Employment Department. We’re also in talks with some four-year universities about locating out there.

Think about it: Step off the Max, step into our classroom and get the training necessary to get a job, step next door to the Employment Department and find out who’s hiring. Boom, like that.

We also would put a GED testing facility out there. This is big, because currently our only GED testing takes place at the Cascade Campus in North Portland. For all those Washington, Yamhill or Columbia county residents who need to take the test, Willow Creek would be much more convenient.

(OK, I just named three of the five counties we serve. Multnomah is sort of a no-brainer. Clackamas is No. 5.)

Willow Creek also would have space to offer allied health classes and first-responder training. “Allied health” includes a wide array of well-paying jobs in the field of medical care. “First responders” is wonk-talk for firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.

• Newberg: Talks have been under way with folks at the school districts, cities, county and business community in Yamhill County to construct an academic building in Newberg, and to expand career-training opportunities there. This is part of the bond planning.

• Sherwood: We also plan to expand career-training opportunities in that town.

If you’re getting sick of me writing about “career training” or “unemployed” or “workforce shortages” well… that’s a shame. But at the end of the day, that’s the No. 1 driving force behind the bond measure.

Send your feedback to dana.haynes@pcc.edu. And thanks in advance.