[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING UMPQUA TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2000

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations 
to Umpqua Training and Employment, Inc. (UT&E), which celebrates its 
25th anniversary on June 11, 2000. UT&E has been a pillar in the 
community, offering employment training, guidance, and aid to the 
citizens of Douglas County.
  On June 11, 1975, the State of Oregon's Corporation Division of the 
Department of Commerce issued a certificate of incorporation to the 
District 6 Manpower Program. The non-profit corporation was organized 
by a group of Douglas County residents who believed that federal 
employment and training programs should be administered by a private 
corporation governed by local directors. In 1981, the corporation began 
doing business under the name Umpqua Training and Employment, Inc.
  Although UT&E's original focus was training the structurally 
unemployed--those who have difficulty getting and keeping jobs under 
any economic circumstances--they saw an increase in business during the 
recession of the 1980's. The unemployment rate shot past the 20 percent 
mark, and residents increasingly began to utilize UT&E services, which 
include labor market information, testing and assessment, job search 
training, career counseling, work experience opportunities, and 
occupational training both in the classroom and on-the-job.
  In the mid-1980's Alcan Cable moved to Douglas County and established 
a unique partnership with UT&E by locating their human resource 
department in UT&E's offices. Applicants who may never have been 
considered for employment,found good jobs with an excellent local 
company, and UT&E began to actively participate in industrial 
recruitment efforts. They have assisted virtually every new employer 
who has located in Douglas County since 1987, including WinCo Foods, 
which is currently establishing their food distribution center, and 
Roseburg Forest Products which is building their new LVL and I-Joist 
plant.
  In the early 1990's as the timber industry downsized, UT&E, the local 
office of the Employment Department, and Umpqua Community College 
formed a ``rapid response unit'' to assist workers displaced by plant 
closures and large lay-offs. With federal funds granted to especially 
hard-hit areas like Douglas County, UT&E helped almost 1,500 residents 
acquire new skills and new jobs.
  UT&E has been recognized for its excellence by the Board of Douglas 
County Commissioners, the State of Oregon, and the Oregon Consortium. I 
join my colleagues in offering my personal congratulations to all those 
involved with Umpqua Training and Employment, Inc. on its 25th 
anniversary. Their tireless work in the community has provided 
countless jobs for the citizens of Douglas County, and I wish the 
members and beneficiaries of UT&E continue success in their future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________