What Willamette Workforce Partnership does

Willamette Workforce Partnership (WWP) is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) workforce development board founded in 2000 and headquartered in Salem, Oregon. Designated under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), WWP serves as the convener and fund administrator for workforce development across four Oregon counties (Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill) in the Mid-Willamette Valley, reaching approximately 22,000 businesses and 750,000 residents. The organization operates a lean team of approximately 10 staff led by Executive Director/CEO Kim Parker-Llerenas and works through contracted service providers including Chehalem Youth and Family Services, Community Services Consortium, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, United Way, and Hightower Workforce Initiatives.

WWP's service portfolio spans the full workforce continuum. Core offerings include the proprietary RETHINKING program suite (Rethinking Job Search, Rethinking Careers, and Rethinking Barriers to Employment), which applies cognitive-behavioral techniques to address employment barriers and has served over 1,200 unemployment insurance recipients with a documented 70% job placement rate. Additional programs include WorkSource Oregon career centers, free leadership and supervisory training through partnerships with Chemeketa Community College, Exit Bliss Consulting, and Knife River Training Center, the Marion County Youth Employment Grant providing $5/hour wage reimbursements for businesses hiring youth ages 14-17, and the Willamette Care Connects behavioral health workforce consortium. The technology stack is non-proprietary and consists primarily of a WordPress website, email newsletters, a YouTube channel, and the 'All in a Day's Work' podcast.

WWP operates as a grant-funded public service organization with no direct revenue from fees or pricing. Funding sources include federal WIOA allocations, Oregon state appropriations, and the Future Ready Oregon $200 million state investment package (from which WWP received $4.5 million in 2022). All services are delivered free of charge to job seekers and employers. Distribution occurs through physical WorkSource Oregon career centers, contracted youth and one-stop service providers, employer partnerships (WinCo Foods, Tiger Manufacturing, Marion County), and digital channels. Governance is provided by a board of directors with over 50% private sector representation, appointed by the Mid-Willamette Jobs Council of county commissioners.

Name

Willamette Workforce Partnership

Legal name

Willamette Workforce Partnership

Website

https://willwp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Willamette Workforce Partnership is a non-profit 501(c)(3) workforce development board serving Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley, administering WIOA-funded career services, the proprietary RETHINKING training program suite, youth employment grants, and employer partnerships across approximately 22,000 businesses and 750,000 residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Immigrant & Refugee Workforce Integration Programs (EDAAAOAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Employment training programs
• Career center services
• Youth employment programs
• Business workforce solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: WWP receives federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funding, state funding from Oregon, and Future Ready Oregon prosperity funding to operate workforce development programs and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Willamette Workforce Partnership is a regional Workforce Development Board that delivers free employment, training, and educational services across Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley. It operates WorkSource Oregon career centers, runs the proprietary RETHINKING cognitive-behavioral training programs (Job Search, Careers, Barriers to Employment), administers youth employment grants, provides leadership and supervisory training through community college and consulting partners, and convenes employers, educators, labor, and community organizations to address regional workforce needs.

Product overview

Willamette Workforce Partnership is a workforce development organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of workforce service programs including the RETHINKING suite (Job Search, Careers, and Barriers to Employment programs), youth employment services, WorkSource Oregon career centers, leadership training, and community resources such as a podcast and self-sufficiency tools. These are direct service programs for job seekers and employers, not software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WorkSource Oregon: Career centers offering job search and career development resources to job seekers ages 16+ regardless of income or background
• Mid-Willamette Jobs Council
• Rethinking Programs
• Y-CAN (Youth Career Achievement Network)
• Willamette Care Connects
• High Performance Consortium

Products and services

• RETHINKING Job Search A transformative workshop series using cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT) to address the emotional and social consequences of unemployment, helping job seekers regain employment. Designed for unemployed individuals in the Mid-Willamette Valley, with over 1,200 UI recipients having completed the pilot.
• RETHINKING Careers A curriculum teaching youth work-ready and cognitive behavioral skills to develop communication, building credibility, and decision-making/problem-solving capabilities. Targeted at youth preparing to enter the workforce in the Mid-Willamette Valley.
• RETHINKING Barriers to Employment An educational program helping those who have experienced homelessness, addiction, incarceration, and/or other significant barriers discover confidence, motivation, and employment. Designed for individuals in the Mid-Willamette Valley facing significant barriers to employment.
• Youth Employment Grant Wage reimbursements of $5 per hour for Marion County businesses that hire first-time youth workers ages 14-17, delivered in collaboration with Marion County. Designed to incentivize Marion County employers to hire and develop young workers.
• WorkSource Oregon Career Centers America's Job Centers offering job search and career development resources to jobseekers ages 16+ regardless of income or background at no cost. Operated by WWP across the four-county Mid-Willamette Valley region.
• Leadership and Supervisory Training Free leadership training delivered in partnership with Chemeketa Community College, Exit Bliss Consulting, and Knife River Training Center for Mid-Willamette Valley community members. Funded through Future Ready Oregon and designed for experienced workers seeking career advancement through supervisory skills and leadership development.
• Oregon Self Sufficiency Standard Dashboard A measure calculating how much income a family must earn to meet basic needs without public or private assistance, accounting for family composition and location. Provided as a dashboard resource for job seekers, workforce planners, employers, and community stakeholders in Oregon.
• All in a Day's Work Podcast A podcast about work hosted by WWP's Dean Craig, featuring workforce topics and community stories. Produced as a free resource for job seekers, employers, and community members in the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chemeketa Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership for workforce training and education. Chemeketa Community College provides training programs and is a key partner in Future Ready Oregon initiatives, including leadership and supervisorial training programs.
• Exit Bliss ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Training partner receiving $50,000 for leadership and supervisorial training. Gloria Coleman founded Exit Bliss Consulting, providing training designed to ignite confidence, strengthen leadership, and build powerhouse teams.
• Knife River Training CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Training partner receiving $49,800 for leadership training. Has long-standing tradition of nurturing leaders across various roles including frontline construction, production, administrative professionals, and engineers.
• WinCo FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinCo Distribution Center in Woodburn, Oregon hired 20 new team members through collaboration with WWP and Salem for Refugees. Partnership provides employment opportunities for refugee populations.
• Salem for RefugeescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating organization for refugee workforce integration programs. WWP funded pilot training programs for Afghan refugees including pilot licensing training. Coordinating support and funeral expense contributions following tragic plane crash.
• Yamhill Community Care (YCCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch 'Workforce Supports for Yamhill County Future Clinician Behavioral Health Practitioners' Training Program to boost behavioral health workforce within Yamhill County.
• Hightower Workforce InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Stop Operator for WWP coordinating service delivery of participating one-stop partners and service delivery providers, ensuring Career Centers meet credentialing requirements. Awarded $75,000 annual contract.
• Chehalem Youth and Family Services (YOOP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIOA Youth Services provider recommended for award to serve Yamhill County. Provides comprehensive year-round services for youth ages 14-24.
• Community Services Consortium (CSC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIOA Youth Services provider recommended for award to serve Linn and Polk Counties. Part of approximately $1,243,000 annual youth services funding.
• Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWCAA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIOA Youth Services provider recommended for award to serve Marion County. HOME Youth Services provides shelter, stability, and support for youth experiencing homelessness.
• United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley/Interface Network (ELY)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIOA Youth Services provider recommended for award to serve Marion County. Partnership with Interface Network for youth employment services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: National non-profit providing workforce training and job placement for young adults facing opportunity barriers. Comparable to WWP's youth-focused services (Y-CAN, Youth Employment Grant) at a different scale and geographic footprint.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Operates employment and economic empowerment programs for refugees and immigrants, directly comparable to WWP's Afghan refugee pilot with Salem for Refugees. National scope but selective geographic presence.

Direct peers

• Worksystems Inc. Portland-metro designated Workforce Development Board providing similar WIOA-funded employment, training, and youth services. Closest operational analog in Oregon, with comparable board structure and employer-engagement model.
• Clackamas Workforce Partnership: Designated Workforce Development Board serving Clackamas County, Oregon. Direct peer in WIOA service delivery, business services, and youth programs, competing for the same statewide funding pools.
• Lane Workforce Partnership: Designated Workforce Development Board serving Lane County, Oregon. Comparable in scope, funding mix (WIOA + state), and service portfolio to WWP.

Others

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): National non-profit focused on workforce innovation, equity, and economic mobility. Comparable in policy advocacy and program design perspective, though JFF operates more as a research/grantmaker than direct service provider.
• National Fund for Workforce Solutions: National non-profit that invests in regional workforce partnerships and intermediary organizations. Comparable as a peer/funder ecosystem to WWP, particularly relevant for understanding funding flows and best-practice benchmarks.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International (Workforce Services): Large national non-profit operating workforce development, job training, and placement programs across the U.S. Comparable in mission and target populations (barriers to employment), though much larger and more diversified.
• Chemeketa Community College: Core strategic partner of WWP with a Workforce Development Center (CLIMB) offering noncredit workforce training, apprenticeships, and career technical education. Comparable on the training-provider side though broader in scope as a community college.

Regional players

• Rogue Workforce Development Board: Workforce Development Board serving southern Oregon (Jackson and Josephine counties). Comparable organizational structure and WIOA mandate; does not directly compete with WWP due to non-overlapping service territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8YWh6-Ziqqkkv5qn6T5IBw
• Xx.com/WillametteWork1
• Facebookfacebook.com/Willamette-Workforce-Partnership-410047186161264
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willamette-workforce-partnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Willamette Workforce Partnership