July 15, 2019 3:35 a.m.
The Southern Oregon Trade Careers Expo has received a $5,000 grant from the Crane Creek Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.
A release from the Oregon Department of Transportation said the donation will help high school students and veterans as well as referred adults, learn first-hand about living wage careers in the manufacturing, trades, professional careers and related industries.
ODOT Civil Rights Coordinator Christie Meacham said the grant well help southern Oregon juniors and seniors, and veterans, to have what could be a life-changing opportunity. ODOT is one of the partner sponsors for the expo.
The release said the first SOTCE was in 2017 and had approximately 900 attendees. The second bi-annual event will be this September at Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville. This year the event will expand and organizers are hoping to have 2,100 attendees from Douglas, Coos, Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties. High school juniors and seniors will attend from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by an afternoon session for veterans, active duty personnel and adult referrals from public and private agencies.
The release said all attendees will explore 10 acres of exhibitor activities inside and outside where they will test their abilities with interactive displays and hands-on engagement. They will also investigate living wage careers by speaking with industry professionals about what trade jobs are really like, find out about employment in different skilled trade industries, and learn how to qualify for trade career training and apprenticeships.
To find out more about the expo, go to www.empowerthepossible.org.