Purposeopportunities industrialization center (OIC) of washington will provide employment training, job placement, and workforce reentry services to a minimum of 60 homeless and at-risk of being…

The Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) awarded $500,000 to Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington (OIC of Washington) under the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP, CFDA 17.805) for the three-year performance period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. OIC of Washington will deliver comprehensive employment training, job placement, and workforce reentry services to a minimum of 60 homeless and at-risk-of-being-homeless veterans annually across nine central Washington counties, including Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, Franklin, Grant, Adams, Walla Walla, Douglas, and Chelan.

The funded program emphasizes work-based learning activities including on-the-job training, internships, customized job training, and apprenticeships designed to accelerate veteran transition into permanent employment. Veteran career counselors will develop individualized success plans with each participant in collaboration with employer partners to ensure veterans develop necessary technical skills and industry knowledge. OIC of Washington projects enrolling 180 veterans over the performance period (60 annually), achieving a 75% placement rate (135 total placements) with an average starting wage of $19.08 per hour. Program success will be measured through employment retention tracking at 30, 60, and 90 days post-placement, wage progression analysis, employer satisfaction surveys, and quarterly performance reviews to ensure continuous improvement and strong employer alignment.

Purposeopportunities industrialization center (OIC) of washington will provide employment training, job placement, and workforce reentry services to a minimum of 60 homeless and at-risk of being homeless veterans annually across multiple counties in central washington, including yakima, kittitas, benton, franklin, grant, adams, walla walla, douglas, and chelan.activities fundedoic will emphasize work-based learning activities such as on-the-job-training, work experiences, internships, customized job training, and apprenticeships to provide veterans hands-on experience in their chosen career paths. OIC will create structured job placements that allow veterans to earn while they learn, accelerating their transition into permanent employment. Veteran career counselors will work one-onone with participants to develop individual success plans (isps), mapping out each veterans pathway to job readiness, certification, and career placement. Employer partners will actively engage in these plans, ensuring participants develop the competencies, technical skills, and industry knowledge required to succeed in high-growth occupations. Success will be measured through employment retention rates at 30, 60, and 90 days post-placement, wage progression tracking, and employer satisfaction surveys. Additionally, quarterly performance reviews will assess participant progress, training effectiveness, and industry demand alignment, ensuring continuous program improvement and strong employer partnerships.intended beneficiarieshomeless and at-risk of being homeless veteransoutcomesover the three-year performance period, OIC will enroll 180 participants (60 per year) and exit 180 veterans from the program. The placement rate is 75%, equating to 45 job placements per year and 135 over the entire performance period. The average hourly wage at placement is projected at $19.08, aligning with regional wage standards. Training completion is a priority, with 75% (135 veterans) completing training before job placement. Employment retention will be 60% in the second quarter after exit (90 veterans) and 30% in the fourth quarter (38 veterans). The median quarterly earnings in the second quarter after exit are projected at $9,921 for a 40-hour workweek. These targets will guide program review and guarantee continuous improvement and sustained employment outcomes for veterans.key partnershipsoic of washington has established long-standing partnerships with ajcs across the SDA, including locations in moses lake, wenatchee, union GAP, sunnyside, kennewick, and walla walla. Ajcs will provide veterans with supplementary employment resources, including resume building, interview coaching, and labor market information. OIC has developed a structured and coordinated approach to connecting veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness with critical supportive services, addressing housing, healthcare, transportation, childcare, and employment barriers. By leveraging established partnerships with local continuums of care (cocs), veteran service organizations, employer networks, and community-based providers, every hvrp participant will receive the necessary resources to achieve long-term employment and housing stability. OIC maintains a formal partnership with the washington balance of state continuum of care (WA BOS COC), which serves all nine counties in the service delivery area (SDA). OIC has direct housing assistance experience as a subgrantee of bmacs ssvf program. Through this program, OIC provides outreach, navigation, and case management to veterans and their families in yakima, benton, franklin, klickitat, and skamania counties, supporting their transition into stable housing. OIC will connect eligible veterans to federally funded housing programs such as HUD-vash, HUD COC housing programs, VA domiciliary grant and per diem (GPD), and FEMA emergency food and shelter services.