In a joint application, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council and Heart of Oregon Corps were recently awarded $995,000 in Oregon Conservation Corps state funds to help reduce wildfire risk in Jefferson, Crook and Deschutes counties through fuels reduction projects. COIC and Heart of Oregon Corps have partnered to form the Central Oregon Wildfire Workforce Partnership, or COWWP, under the new Oregon Conservation Corps funding opportunity.

As a whole, the COWWP will train and employ over 140 local youth and young adults in wildfire reduction and related skills. In addition to gaining on-the-job training, certifications, and knowledge in fire fuel reduction practices, youth in the program will receive wages, scholarships, additional workforce training in both soft and hard skills to prepare them to enter the professional workforce. Youth crews will start project work on identified high risk areas in early May and will continue through June of 2023. Youth, young adult, and staff positions are available now and applications are at www.heartoforegon.org or at www.coic.org. 

For project information or to discuss a potential fuels reduction project in your community, contact Shelby Knight, Resilience Planner, at sknight@coic.org.