PORTLAND, Ore. — Two Job Corps centers in the Portland metro area will shut down, resulting in layoffs for 89 staff members, as revealed in WARN notices filed on Monday.
This news comes just a week after the announcement of another closure in Astoria, which will see 168 employees laid off.
Job Corps is a federal program aimed at providing workforce training and support for low-income and at-risk youth aged 16 to 24.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it would suspend operations at all contractor-run centers by the end of June due to financial deficits and disappointing graduation rates.
Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the original purpose of Job Corps, stating, “Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training, and community.”
However, she continued, “A startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve.”
The affected centers—the PIVOT Job Corps Center in Northwest Portland and the Springdale Job Corps Center in Troutdale—are scheduled for closure on June 30.
According to the WARN notices, 12 staff members will be laid off at PIVOT, while Springdale will let go of 77 employees.
Both centers operate under contracts with Career Systems Development Corporation, as mandated by the DOL.
Normally, employers must provide at least 60 days’ notice for large layoffs.
However, Career Systems Development Corporation cited an exception allowing for shorter notice periods if a major contract is unexpectedly terminated.
The DOL reportedly informed the contractor of its decision to cancel both contracts on May 29, the same day as the announcement regarding the broader suspension of operations.
Another closure, like the PIVOT and Springdale centers, was the Tongue Point Job Corps Center in Astoria, also operated by Management & Training Corporation.
Staff and students at Astoria expressed their concerns, stating the closure would significantly impact hundreds of young people, many of whom may lose their housing and support services.
At the time of the DOL’s announcement, Tongue Point had approximately 300 students enrolled.
These developments have garnered significant backlash from elected officials.
In a letter dated June 4, all members of Oregon’s congressional delegation, except Rep. Cliff Bentz, urged Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to reverse the decision regarding the closures.
The letter described the decision as “callous and dangerous,” arguing it has thrown the lives of about 25,000 young Americans into disarray, particularly for those residential students facing immediate housing, healthcare, and career challenges.
A subsequent letter on June 6, signed by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley among others, labeled the facility closures as illegal.
They pointed out that the Job Corps program was established under a congressional statute that outlines specific requirements and procedures for shutting down any program centers, which do not include a “pause” option.
Moreover, the senators highlighted that Congress has allocated funding for the program for the upcoming fiscal year.
“Congress passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, which includes $1,760,155,000 for Job Corps and ensures that Job Corps Centers are funded for the new program year that begins on July 1, 2025,” they stated.
They concluded their letter by reminding the DOL of its obligation to implement the law faithfully.
image source from：https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/job-corps-centers-portland-troutdale-shutting-down/283-03fb24e0-c2bf-4316-815b-eace29e53a67
