Throughout February, Chemeketa Community College will celebrate National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month by spotlighting the programs that prepare students for in-demand careers, strengthen local industries, and fuel Oregon’s economy. As a leading provider of workforce education in the Mid-Willamette Valley, Chemeketa’s CTE programs play a vital role in connecting people to opportunity and helping communities thrive.

Career and Technical Education is at the core of Chemeketa’s mission to build careers and strengthen communities. With around 90 CTE program options, students can pursue pathways aligned with their passions and interests while gaining the skills employers are actively seeking. Chemeketa’s CTE offerings span healthcare, advanced manufacturing, skilled trades, business, technology, agriculture, transportation, public safety, and other high-demand fields—many leading directly to family-wage jobs.

As part of National CTE Month, the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA), in partnership with Oregon’s 17 community colleges, will host CTE Day at the Capitol on February 18. The event will feature hands-on demonstrations and displays in the East Galleria showcasing how community college CTE programs meet workforce needs across the state. Legislators and members of the public are invited to attend and engage directly with college representatives.

Community college leaders, students, and partners will also be at the Capitol on February 18 to emphasize the importance of maintaining stable funding for community colleges and continued support for the Community College Support Fund. Sustained investment ensures colleges like Chemeketa can continue delivering high-quality workforce training that supports economic mobility and regional growth.

“As the primary workforce training providers in Oregon, community colleges deliver education that is directly connected to jobs,” said Dr. Abby Lee, Executive Director of OCCA. “Community colleges are the backbone of our state’s economy, training the professionals who keep Oregon moving forward. National CTE Month and CTE Day at the Capitol are opportunities to show policymakers and the public how Community Colleges WORK for Oregon by delivering real workforce solutions and supporting local economies.”

At Chemeketa, CTE programs are developed in close partnership with local employers to ensure students gain relevant, hands-on experience and industry-recognized credentials. According to a 2023 Lightcast economic impact study, Oregon’s community colleges generated $9.6 billion in economic impact during Fiscal Year 2021–22 and supported nearly one in every 22 jobs statewide.

“Career and Technical Education changes lives,” said Jessica Howard, Ph.D., President and CEO of Chemeketa Community College. “Our CTE programs help individuals build meaningful careers that lead to family-wage jobs, while also strengthening the industries and communities we serve. With nearly 90 CTE options, Chemeketa offers pathways that align with students’ passions and goals, whether they are just starting out, retraining for a new career, or advancing in their current field.”

Community members are encouraged to celebrate National CTE Month by learning more about Chemeketa’s CTE programs and following Chemeketa and OCCA on social media throughout February as colleges across the state highlight the people, programs, and partnerships that make Career and Technical Education a powerful engine for Oregon’s workforce.