Build Tomorrow’s Workforce Today
Why Partner With Us?
Industry involvement in high school is a critical piece of preparing the next generation of students for the workforce. In Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties, we connect businesses, associations, and workforce boards with practical opportunities to engage in education. We provide the infrastructure for industry partners to help develop work-ready employees, starting at the high school level in our region.
Build Your Future Workforce
Connect with motivated students through job shadows, internships, and mock interviews. These experiences help you identify and prepare future talent for your business.
Inspire the Next Generation
Share your career journey, industry insights, and job opportunities with students through industry chats, career fairs, and industry tours. Help young people discover what’s possible in your field.
Strengthen Education Partnerships
Collaborate with educators through externships and industry-connected projects. Get involved in programs that bring your industry into the classroom and support long-term career learning in the community.
Engagement Opportunities
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Participate in a student career fair by setting up a booth to showcase your business and industry. Connect with students, share information about career pathways, and help them explore opportunities in your field. You’re welcome to bring hands-on activities, tools, or machinery to make your booth interactive and engaging.
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Support career-connected learning by hosting teachers on-site for a half day or full day during our week-long summer Educator Externship. This experience helps educators gain a deeper understanding of your industry so they can better prepare students for future careers. Hosts typically offer a tour, share about their business and career paths, and introduce staff. It’s a meaningful way to build school connections with a short time commitment.
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Internships involve hosting a student for an extended on-the-job learning experience in the workplace. Designed for students to receive industry focused training and mentorship, experiences can be paid or unpaid and typically take place over the summer.
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Visit a classroom for a 45-minute session with students interested in your field. Share your career journey, talk about your business, and discuss the skills and education needed to succeed in your industry. It’s a simple, high-impact way to inspire future talent.
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An industry connected project involves partnering with a classroom teacher to provide an interactive industry-based project that brings real-world concepts into the classroom. Industry partners provide mentorship throughout the project.
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Host groups of students at your worksite to showcase your industry in action. These on-site visits help students explore career pathways, ask questions, and see real-world skills in use. You can also participate in career-focused weeks by hosting tours aligned with specific industries or themes. Many partners include hands-on activities or demonstrations to make the experience even more impactful.
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Industry partners can submit job, internship, or training opportunities to be shared directly with educators and students across our region. Opportunities will be posted on our student-facing opportunity board, helping connect your business with motivated young talent ready to explore careers in your industry.
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Host a student for 2 to 8 hours to give them a firsthand look at your industry. Students observe employees on the job and learn about real workplace roles and responsibilities. Our team manages applications and logistics; you simply host the student at your site.
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Mock Interviews involve helping prepare students for the workforce by volunteering to interview them and give them feedback on their interview skills and resume.
Our School Districts
Michelle Imam Bakhsh, Riverbend Materials
“We think it's an excellent opportunity to partner with our local community schools and provide kids with on the job learning experiences.”
The Power of a High School Intern
Hosting high school interns is a valuable way to grow your future workforce. It gives you the chance to introduce students to your industry early, spark their interest, and develop potential talent while your team mentors and shapes the next generation. Internships create valuable connections that strengthen your recruitment and help grow a workforce ready to meet your needs. Hear what other businesses have to say about the benefits of hosting interns in this video.
