Workforce Development
Building stronger communities by supporting businesses.
Small businesses are an integral piece of our regional economy in the Pacific Northwest. The IBR Program is committed to supporting the growth of these businesses by encouraging their participation in contracting opportunities and facilitating relationships between contractors, big and small. From packaging contracts that create potential opportunities for smaller firms to writing specifications that encourage small business participation, the IBR Program seeks to ensure information and resources are available to small firms.
Workforce Readiness in the Program Area
The IBR program recognizes that a locally trained and skilled workforce that is ready to meet the challenges of the future is critical to the program's success. To identify strategies to improve workforce readiness and empower participation by business owners and workers from all communities, a workforce study was commissioned by the IBR program. This study was a key step in understanding the gaps in the region’s current workforce and supported the program by providing recommendations for how to bridge them.
The study revealed significant growth in the number of construction workers added over the past several years, but gaps still exist. These gaps expose a deficiency in how the region will meet broader goals in the Portland metro area for workforce utilization in upcoming infrastructure projects. The study offers recommendations for IBR's role in fostering opportunity and access, and current discussions internally and with program partners aim to identify actionable strategies within IBR's scope. The program is committed to being intentional in how it pursues impactful measures to enhance economic development through support the development of a robust regional workforce.
View the results of the study: Workforce Market Study Report | Workforce Market Study Summary
Resources for Small Businesses
Requirements and Certification
To participate in the program, a small business owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals can apply for DBE certification from their home state — generally through the state’s Unified Certification Program (UCP).
US Department of Transportation DBE program
COBID for firms operating in Oregon
OMWBE for firms operating in Washington
An agreement between the states of Oregon and Washington is in place creating reciprocity of DBE certification for firms working across the Columbia River. It is recommended that eligible businesses seek certification in both Oregon and Washington as reciprocity is not guaranteed on future contracts.
Technical Assistance and Training
Resources to receive the technical support and training to prepare for contracting opportunities with the IBR program:
Oregon
- Business Impact NW
- Government Contract Assistance Program (APEX) — Oregon
- National Association of Minority Contractors
- Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
- Oregon Building Trades Council
- Oregon Emerging Small Business program
- Oregon Minority Business Development Agency
- Urban League of Portland & Southwest Washington
- Community Foundation of Southwest Washington
- Disability Rights Washington
- Filipino American Association of Vancouver
- Government Contract Assistance Program (APEX) — Washington
- Latino Community Resource Group
- National Advancement Association for Colored People
- National Association of Minority Contractors
- Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council
- Share Vancouver
- Urban League of Portland & Southwest Washington
- Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
*Some resources listed may require membership.
Job Seekers and Business Owners Resources
Workforce and Business Resources
- Clackamas Workforce Partnership
- Innovative Services NW
- Oregon Tradeswomen
- Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
- Partners in Careers Washington
- Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC)
- Sisters in Building Trades Washington
- Worksystems Inc
- Workforce Southwest Washington
- WorkSource Oregon
- WorkSource Washington
Apprenticeships
Pre-apprenticeships
*Some resources listed may require membership.
Future Contract Opportunities
The IBR program is committed to maximizing DBE participation in future contracts. Construction work on the IBR program could begin as soon as late 2025 or early 2026.
It is anticipated that there will be over two dozen contracts of various sizes. This work ranges from the replacement of the I-5 bridges over the Columbia River to local roadways, building construction and transit.
Contracting opportunities for DBEs will exist within these larger contracts. Work scopes for potential DBE contracts may include, but are not limited to, various types of work such as:
- Steel fabrication and erection
- Electrical
- Concrete
- Drilled shafts
- Asphalt paving
- Landscaping
- Trucking
- Excavation
- Traffic control
- Utility relocation
- Sound and retaining walls
- Stormwater management
- Excavation
- Shared use path construction
- Transit facilities
- Demolition
- Wetland mitigation
- Public art installations
- Roadway/asphalting
- Restoration under the bridge
- Third-party construction monitoring
- Clerical
- Financial
- Facilities support
Measuring Participation
For a complete list of IBR program participation metrics, please visit our accountability dashboard.
Small Business Participation Goals
Percent of contracts awarded to small businesses through June 2025.
Small Business Contract Values
Awarded contract amounts to small businesses to date through June 2025*
Awarded contract amounts to small businesses to date through June 2025.
| Asian-Pacific American | $16,441,565 |
| Black American | $13,690,403 |
| Caucasian | $11,789,118 |
| Hispanic American | $955,571 |
| Native American | $1,771,416 |
| Subcontinent Asian American | $487,977 |
Partner with Us
The IBR Program is partnering with small business organizations and workforce sector nonprofits and we want to work with you to extend our network of groups that offer resources for small firms and support to job seekers.