Clatsop Community College has received a $265,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to develop a new construction management certificate aimed at preparing students for skilled and leadership positions in the regional construction industry. The grant will support a project manager who will research and design a proposed one-year Construction Management Certificate at CCC.
“This grant gives us the opportunity to build this program thoughtfully and in partnership with the people who know the industry best,” said Beth Van Elswyk, CCC’s Interim Executive Director of Workforce Innovation and Partnerships. “We can work directly with employers, research successful models and develop a pathway that responds to our region’s workforce needs while giving students opportunities to grow into well-paying careers.”
The project manager will work with construction employers, educators and workforce partners to establish program curriculum, identify equipment and hands-on training needs, develop industry partnerships and determine how the program can best serve students and regional employers.
The position will also seek matching funds, additional grants and partnerships to help transition the proposed certificate from its development stage into a sustainable, long-term program.
CCC’s planning is driven in part by regional demand for workers who can move into construction leadership positions. Labor market research included in the College’s grant planning identified more than 10,000 construction management and supervisory jobs within the region, with a median salary of approximately $110,000. Employers have also identified workforce shortages and succession needs within the industry.
The proposed certificate would combine foundational construction knowledge with skills used in construction management, including planning, documentation, communication, scheduling, estimating, safety and quality practices. Hands-on, project-based learning would be an important component of the program.
The goal is also to introduce students to the range of career opportunities available within construction. The program will be designed to expose youth and young adults to construction careers well beyond entry level labor. Many people only see construction as entry level work, instead of a field with real advancement opportunities, leadership pathways, and high wages. This program’s intention is to change that narrative by showing students what modern construction looks like and to build a clear pathway from foundational skills to management track careers. In addition to skilled trades positions, the industry offers pathways into careers such as superintendent, project manager, estimator and other supervisory and management roles.
The program is planned for CCC’s Industrial and Manufacturing Technology Center at the MERTS Campus, using existing shop and classroom space. Planning will explore ways the program could serve CCC students, area high school students, working adults and current industry employees seeking additional training or advancement.
“We are grateful to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for supporting our vision for a practical, hands-on construction pathway,” CCC President Jarrod Hogue said. “This investment will help us provide foundational training while also creating opportunities to develop skills in planning, estimating, project management, and the new technologies transforming the industry.”
Once the program structure, curriculum, partnerships and funding model are established, CCC plans to transition from the project development position to a Construction Department faculty lead who can oversee the new pathway. The 3-year timeline of the grant allows the first year to focus on funding the project manager to design the program, then year two and three would support the faculty position and start of the program. CCC anticipates launching the Construction Management Program as early as Fall term of 2027.
The Murdock Trust grant provides CCC with the capacity to develop the program in collaboration with industry rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. The College hopes that process will result in a sustainable construction pathway that responds directly to employer needs, provides students with access to family-wage careers and strengthens the region’s workforce.
About M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, created by the will of the late Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, provides grants, programs, initiatives, and convenings for nonprofit organizations in five states of the Pacific Northwest—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington—that seek to strengthen the region’s educational, social, spiritual, and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. www.murdocktrust.org
