Multnomah County has a longstanding commitment to supporting diversity within the local construction workforce and fostering small business development. In 2018, the Board of County Commissioners demonstrated this commitment by approving the creation of the Construction Diversity Equity Fund (CDEF). This dedicated funding stream supports three key initiatives:
- Support for pre-apprenticeship programs
- Workforce support services and retention program
- Technical assistance, mentoring, and training for COBID certified firms
Funding for CDEF varies annually, based on the amount of construction carried out by the County. Primary funding sources include 1% of the cost of new County construction projects that exceed $1 million and renovation projects exceeding $200,000.
Support for pre-apprenticeship programs
Multnomah County funds local pre-apprenticeship programs approved by the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), to support peoples that have long been underrepresented in the building trades such as women, people impacted by the justice system, and people of color. Previously supported pre-apprenticeship programs include Portland Youth Builders, LatinoBuilt, Oregon Tradeswomen, and many more.
Workforce support services and retention program
Through CDEF, BOLI registered apprentices can receive direct support from Multnomah County's service provider, Akana, to help with unexpected expenses. This support includes assistance with travel, lodging, childcare, tools, and personal protective equipment. By providing this additional support, the County aims to improve apprentice retention and graduation rates, leading to journey-level certification and increased opportunities for higher pay. Apprentices can contact Penny Painter at Penny.Painter@akana.us to learn more about Akana's support services.
Technical assistance, mentoring, and training for COBID certified firms
Businesses certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE), or Emerging Small Business (ESB) through the Oregon Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) can access free technical assistance through CDEF. This assistance is available to certified businesses in the construction, professional services, and contracting fields.
Through CDEF, certified businesses are partnered with a contracted Multnomah County service provider to receive assistance in areas such as:
- Business Operations and Basic Project Management
- Compliance Documentation Training
- Computer Training
- Financial Training
- Marketing Training
- Networking and Mentoring
COBID Certified Firms can request assistance and find more information on the technical assistance webpage.
Please direct any questions to cdef@multco.us.