In 1990, the North Gateway Urban Renewal Area was established on roughly 900-acre section of north Salem that includes the Portland Road Corridor. As an innovative public-private partnership between Salem-Keizer Public Schools and Mountain West Investment Corporation, the Career and Technology Education Center opened in 2015. The vision for CTEC is to prepare high school students for high-skill, high-wage and high-demand careers while developing the professional skills, technical knowledge, academic foundation and real-world experience to assure their success upon graduation. The first full school year (2016-17), Salem-Keizer graduation rates increased nearly two percent, and decreased the dropout rate.

The Urban Renewal Agency just announced an investment of $2 million toward the Salem-Keizer School District’s Career and Technology Education Center. CTEC opened in North Salem to address the need for a trained workforce in the Mid-Willamette region and provides workforce development and educational opportunities for Salem residents including auto mechanics, construction, agricultural science, culinary, and design programs.

Mountain West purchased the 150,000 square-foot former Neilsen Manufacturing facility in 2014 with a commitment to renovate the space and equip 10 different Career Technical Education programs by 2019. The total capital project budget is $17 million, with Mountain West contributing $9 million, and $8 million leveraged from the public sector, foundations, individuals and businesses.

As the other half of the public-private partnership, Salem-Keizer Public Schools develops the curriculum, recruits and registers students, hires faculty and staff, provides transportation and covers ongoing operating costs. CTEC programs align with high school graduation requirements as well as industry certifications and standards.

The CTEC programs are right inline with Ivanka Trump’s campaign as co-chair of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board that took root at the beginning of 2019. The goal is to make apprenticeships and other training programs just as attractive that is far less expensive than higher education.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-12-16 08:49:05