PCC’s $11 Million grant for SHIFT initiative expanding access to clean tech and skilled-trades careers
Story by James Hill, photos by Ric Getter.
Leslie Smith, PCC alum, works on HVAC building systems in the training lab at the Swan Island Training Center.
Portland’s transition to electric vehicles and more energy-efficient buildings comes with a practical challenge: Who will maintain all of that new technology?
An $11 million partnership between Portland Community College, the PCC Foundation and the City of Portland’s Bureau of Fleet and Facilities is attempting to answer that question by building a pipeline of workers trained to service electric vehicles, sophisticated building systems and other clean-energy infrastructure.
Project SHIFT (Sustainable HVAC, Infrastructure, and Fleet Technology) is funded through the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund grant. Established in 2025, the 4.5-year initiative is expanding access to education in automotive service technology, diesel service technology, facilities maintenance, HVAC and pre-trades programs while developing new training in electric vehicle maintenance and building energy management.
PCC Automotive Service Program alum Rick Cruz works on the new EV vehicle used for SHIFT training in the Sylvania Campus shop.
The project will continue through December 2029.
“Project SHIFT connects students, especially those who have historically faced barriers, with the education, financial support and resources they need to move into family-wage careers,” said Pam Hester, program dean of PCC’s Community Workforce Development & Opportunity Centers. “At the same time, it helps our region build the skilled workforce needed to maintain electric vehicles, energy-efficient buildings and other clean technologies that will power a more sustainable future.”
Participants will receive help exploring career options, enrolling at PCC, paying for their education and accessing the resources they need to persist and complete their programs.
The PCC Foundation will provide more than $2.5 million in scholarships during the project. Academic and tools scholarships can cover tuition, course materials and required toolkits. Emergency grants will also help eligible students experiencing financial barriers involving childcare, transportation, housing or medical expenses.
During the 2025-26 academic year, SHIFT scholarships supported 130 students. Of those recipients, 47% identified as Black, Indigenous or people of color, 22% reported a disability, and 10% identified as female, nonbinary or gender fluid.
“Portland Community College has been an outstanding partner in helping us prepare our workforce for the future,” said Terika White, Workforce & Organizational Development Analyst for the City of Portland. “Through the SHIFT project, we’re expanding opportunities for employees to develop new skills while strengthening the City’s ability to maintain increasingly advanced fleet and facilities systems. This partnership represents an investment in both our current workforce and the next generation of skilled public employees, helping ensure the City is prepared to meet evolving infrastructure and clean energy needs for years to come.”
Opportunity Centers
PCC’s Opportunity Centers connect people, employers and community partners to education and career opportunities. Located in Northeast Portland and Hillsboro, the centers help participants explore careers, build skills and confidence, access PCC classes, job fairs, WorkSource and TANF programs, and develop plans for long-term educational and workforce success and mobility.
Lisa Kim, the project manager, said SHIFT includes four major areas of work.
- PCC’s Future Connect Program and Opportunity Centers are introducing young people and adults to clean technology careers and educational pathways through advising and ongoing college support, as well as access to Discover Clean Technology.
- With the aid of scholarships, students can earn credentials leading directly to employment or combine certificates toward associate degrees in Automotive Service Technology, Diesel Service Technology or Facilities Maintenance Technology.
- Support PCC’s Pre-Trades Construction Career Pathway Certificate at Columbia River Correctional Institution, which provides adults in custody with education and career preparation before their release.
- Development of three noncredit electric vehicle maintenance courses and new building energy training modules that promote clean technologies.
- PCC’s Professional Development and Training team will provide customized instruction for City of Portland fleet and facilities employees.
“SHIFT is creating a comprehensive pathway into clean technology careers, from early career exploration and foundational education to new electric vehicles and building energy training,” Kim said. “By supporting students, adults in custody and current City of Portland employees, we are helping people build relevant skills while ensuring regional employers have the workforce needed to maintain increasingly complex, climate-friendly vehicles, equipment and building systems.”
Students and community members can learn more about SHIFT, available scholarships and the Discover Clean Technology course at www.pcc.edu/shift.
Cruz works on PCC’s new EV training vehicle as fellow alum Janet Gallegos monitors the system as automotive service instructor Jay Kuykendall oversees their work.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »