“Grow Our Own” was the phrase that started the McMinnville WORKS program in 2013. It referred to the strategy to build our own workforce in McMinnville in response to the struggle of local companies to find talented employees. Today, eight years later, that struggle is real as ever following the COVID-19 pandemic, but the WORKS program continues to strive to connect interns with local businesses, both of whom are hungry to learn and grow.” Read the full article by McMinnville WORKS 2021 Summer Internship Coordinator Christopher Nobles

Learn a bit more about what its like to be an intern in the McMinnville Works program, and hear from various supervisors about the value of being able to work with a talented group of young professionals. This video was produced by an intern in the 2020 McMinnville Works Program.

Columbia Works, a pilot internship program where Columbia County high school students earn summer experience working at the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) R&D, celebrated the completion of its first cohort.

They worked with industry mentors to explore and develop digital tools, including augmented reality and virtual reality technology, robotics, and video production — skills that help provide training solutions to real-world challenges faced by advanced manufacturers. Continue reading full announcement.