A Chemeketa truck driving student gets pointers on inspecting a trailer. The college’s program is set to expand with free slots for 30 students thanks to a state workforce training grant. (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) When an influx of Afghan refugees began arriving in Salem last year, Luke Glaze saw an[Read More…]
ECONOMY
Rising costs, supply chain problems plague construction projects in Salem
For Pence Construction, a Salem commercial contractor, this year marked the first time a construction project hinged on dimmer switches. All other supplies are in, but Brent Pence, owner and senior project manager, said they can’t have dimmable light switches in hand until August. “My whole project ties into this[Read More…]
COLUMN: Low-wage workers who kept society running during pandemic reaped few rewards
About half of local openings for high-demand jobs pay lower wages (Graphic by Pamela Ferrara) In April of 2020, the Salem area unemployment rate climbed in one month’s time from 3.9 percent to 11.3 percent, due to business shutdowns to control the pandemic. The high unemployment rate put a glaring[Read More…]
Big jumps in food prices hit Salem restaurants, institutions
Annette’s Westgate Cafe goes through about 330 pounds of bacon a week. It’s a staple for the Salem restaurant on Northwest Edgewater Street, which has been serving hearty meals for 15 years. Owner Brian Kato Dilks said many of the proteins served at Annette’s are bought on six-month or year-long[Read More…]
Spiraling costs have some local families choosing between food, medical care
Holli Thomas’ breast cancer is responding to the drug trial she’s enrolled in. But the 54-year-old Keizer resident has to drive to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland for her treatment. With gas prices over $5 per gallon, she’s now having to sell clothes and furniture to afford the[Read More…]
Salem’s plans for commercial air travel in coming year hinge on federal grant
A plane on the tarmac at the Salem Municipal Airport on Thursday, May 5, 2022 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Salem could see commercial flights return to its airport within a year – if the city is successful in its third effort to get a federal grant to help market the service[Read More…]
COLUMN: Health care, manufacturing jobs targeted in new workforce training plan
Nurses are among the local jobs expected to see the most growth in the coming years.(Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) After decades of declining federal funding, the Willamette Workforce Partnership, the local area workforce board, will see its annual job-training budget double in the space of the next few months. Here’s why:[Read More…]
Dozens of companies that defied Covid mandates are fighting nearly $1 million in fines
Courthouse Club Fitness owes the largest Covid-related fines to Oregon according to new data from the state’s workplace safety agency. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Though most pandemic restrictions in Oregon are gone, several dozen businesses cited by state safety officials for violating Covid mandates still owe hundreds of thousands of dollars[Read More…]
Brown signs $200M ‘Future Ready Oregon’ workforce training plan
Gov. Kate Brown signs her $200 million “Future Ready Oregon” workforce spending plan at the Intel campus in Hillsboro, Oregon, on April 5, 2022. (Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) HILLSBORO – Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday signed into law a $200 million workforce spending plan aimed at helping more Oregonians find[Read More…]
Office rental space scarce in Salem, but that could shift as some state workers stay remote
Salem’s office buildings remain largely leased despite the shift toward remote work over the past two years, but the full impact of the pandemic on local offices remains to be seen as state agencies sort out their long-term needs. The city’s office rental market has escaped the high vacancy rates[Read More…]
