Friday, March 5, 2010

Working Together

The rehabilitation and remodel of Toledo's former Public Safety Building has truly been a team effort. Port employees have been working alongside students who are gaining invaluable experience and on-the-job training in construction trades. The Community Services Consortium is working with crew leader Peter Lohonyay to complete the rehab, turning the building into usable space and making the exterior look fresh and new.

According to an article in the March 3rd News-Times, the CSC program is open to youth ages 14 to 24, and once accepted, students learn a trade while earning minimum wage. "They receive job training, they learn professionalism, all of the work readiness skills that are transferrable to just about any job," said Diana "Dee" Teem, CSC workforce and education program advisor.

The program is supported through federal, state and local government funding and private foundations. Grant and stimulus dollars through the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps help fund Lohonyay's crew, as well as $15,000 from the Lincoln County Economic Development Grant.

Youth Construction team members have sheetrocked, plastered and textured the interior in preparation for painting, which they will be completing soon. Next on the agenda is the ground-work for the pocket park which will be adjacent to the building. It will occupy the space where the administrative wing of the structure used to exist.

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