News release Sen. Roblan. SB 867 creates task force dedicated to training coastal workforce for good jobs. SALEM – Sen. Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) advanced legislation today designed to help maritime businesses – as well as current and future workers in that industry – by connecting workforce training opportunities with the needs of maritime sector businesses. Spearheaded by a bipartisan group of legislators that includes Roblan, Sen. Jeff Kruse (R-Roseburg), Rep. David Gomberg (D-Otis) and Rep. David Brock Smith (R-Gold Beach), Senate Bill 867 — which passed out of the Senate Committee on Business and Transportation today – creates the Task Force on Maritime Sector Workforce Development. “The maritime industry is vital to our state’s economy; it has been a cornerstone throughout our state’s history, and it will continue to create good jobs on the coast,” Roblan said. “As a lifelong educator, I have known for years that training opportunities are of little value if they don’t prepare our students with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce. Workers need to have the skills that businesses need, and this will help create opportunities to line up workforce training with maritime industry needs. This bill is good for maritime businesses, which need a skilled and well-trained workforce to be successful. It’s also good for our coastal workforce by giving people the skills they need to get great jobs on the Oregon coast.” The bill directs the task force to study and develop a description of the maritime sector, as well as the workforce in that industry, and provide recommendations to the State Workforce Investment Board. The maritime industry sector – which is vital to the current and future of creating and keeping good-paying jobs for coastal workers – would then be incorporated into the statewide workforce investment system plan. After that work is complete, the state would promote coordinated education, employment, economic development and job-training opportunities that support the maritime industry in Oregon.
