PCC OMIC Training Center

08/21/2026

Big shout out to our friends at Hangsterfer's Metalworking Fluids! We were thrilled to be featured in Episode 5 of their Monthly L**E series, filmed at last year's Manufacturing Day, and it's a great look at what makes our Machine Manufacturing Technology program tick.

In this clip, one of our instructors shares how programming a CNC machine can feel a lot like playing a video game, which makes it a perfect fit for students who love tech, logic, and hands-on creativity. It's exactly the kind of framing that helps a new maker see themselves in this field.

Partners like Hangsterfer's are a huge part of how we keep our training relevant, engaging, and future-focused. Thank you for shining a light on our students and instructors, and for being such a great partner to the OMIC Training Center!

And with that, we're already gearing up for this year's Manufacturing Day! Want to learn more or get involved? Head to https://www.pcc.edu/events/manufacturing-day/

Watch last year's clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KCch99WE8M

For National Manufacturing Day, students are invited to explore the...

08/20/2026

Attention English Language Learners: it's not too late to start your welding career! PCC's Integrated Education & Training (IET) program is kicking off its 5th year of the Wire Welding Program this fall, and there's still room for you.

The program runs September 21, 2026 through March 18, 2027, with in-person classes Monday through Thursday, 5 to 10 PM at the Rock Creek Campus. Classes are taught in English and are built to help you prepare for an entry-level welding position, earn a PCC Wire Welding Career Pathway Certificate, and build the English language skills you'll use on the job. You'll also get individualized coaching and job search assistance along the way.

A few things to know: tuition assistance and scholarships are available, and you'll need placement into ESOL Level 5 Reading, Writing, and Communication (or higher) to be eligible for this cohort. Space is limited, so a lottery may be used to select participants.

Interested? Sign up for the info session here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfk8-ntpsq6wlJ_pLnpgvvQSOrlP0OhmioJJBcymVsU8wnTAQ/viewform

08/18/2026

Grab some paper and let's make something loud! The OMIC Training Center Fab Lab is throwing a Zine & Bookmaking Workshop on Friday, August 21, from 1 to 4 PM, and your weird, wonderful ideas are the whole point.

So what's a zine? It's a short, self-published booklet made to share art, ideas, writing, whatever you've got burning to get out. Long before the internet, zines were how independent voices cut through the noise and got their ideas into people's hands, no permission needed. You'll dig into the history and DIY spirit behind them, then build your own one-of-a-kind sketchbook to keep.

True to Fab Lab form, it's free, no registration, and open to makers of all ages and abilities (youth under 16 with adult supervision). Just show up and make something that's entirely yours!

The Fab Lab lives in the PCC OMIC Training Center, 34001 NE Wagner Ct, Scappoose, OR 97056.
Learn more: pcc.edu/maker

08/16/2026

Students and educators, mark your calendars! Manufacturing Day comes to the PCC OMIC Training Center on Friday, October 2, a hands-on morning built to show you how many directions a career in manufacturing can take.

You'll rotate through workshops covering STEAM topics and skilled trades like welding and machining, explore an open floor of industry tables, and collect passport stamps for a shot at a prize raffle. No experience needed, just curiosity! Activities are designed with 11th and 12th graders in mind, but students of all ages are welcome, and lunch is provided. This event is for registered schools and groups, not open to the general public.

Educators, registration info is at the link below, but watch your school email inbox for more details. Not on our event mailing list? Email me at [email protected] and we'll get you added. And please share the flier around your school to help spread the word!

Learn more and register: https://www.pcc.edu/events/manufacturing-day/

08/14/2026

🌲 That's a wrap on the 2026 Columbia Works Internship! 🌲

Today our interns stood up in front of a room full of industry professionals and presented the work they've spent the summer building. Projects, process, what went sideways, what they'd do differently. They answered real questions from real manufacturers and they handled it beautifully. 💪

To every industry partner who sat on our feedback panel today, thank you. Joe Louie from Oregon Aero, Inc., Brian Cataldi with Leupold Optics, Chat Niesse from Calbag Metals - Portland, OR, and our friends Sierra Repp and Emma Sparkman from Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center R&D. You gave up a full morning to listen, ask good questions, and tell these students what you saw in them. That kind of feedback lands differently coming from a potential future employer, and it's the reason this program works. 🙏

And to our interns: we are so proud of you! You showed up all summer, you asked questions, you got your hands dirty, and today you talked about your work like the professionals you're becoming. Columbia County manufacturing is lucky to have you coming up. 👏

Want to bring a Columbia Works intern onto your team in 2027? Let's talk! Email [email protected], and stay tuned for more ways to get involved!

08/13/2026

Your future in advanced manufacturing could start with one class! Join us for a one-day Discover Manufacturing session on Wednesday, August 19, from 10 AM to 1 PM at the PCC OMIC Training Center.

This is your chance to explore Pre-Trades for Advanced Manufacturing, Machine Manufacturing Technology, and Welding Technology, and see what a hands-on career really looks like. You'll get a feel for welding, machining, and programmable logic controllers, learn how to earn certifications in safety, first aid, and forklift operation, and discover how you can be job ready in just three months. The payoff is real: PCC OMIC grads earn an average starting wage of $24/hour, and local employers like Microchip, Vigor Ship Yard, Davis Tools, and NW Natural hire from this program. Start Fall term on September 21 and you could receive up to $2,331 in scholarships.

One morning could be the first step toward an amazing, high paying career. Come see what's possible!

Secure your spot: bit.ly/DMatPCC
Questions? Contact Patti Cabrera-Perez at [email protected] or 971-722-2664.

08/12/2026

Curious about college but not sure where to start? PCC's College & Career Prep Team is here to help, and it's completely free.

Their no-cost exploration classes let you dig into in-demand careers in healthcare, manufacturing, and clean tech, build college success skills, and get to know PCC's training programs. You'll also get 1-on-1 support applying to PCC, figuring out how to pay for college, and connecting with community resources. There are even 10-day trainings like CNC Operator Readiness Essentials (CORE) and Quick Start to Manufacturing for folks ready to jump into a fast-growing field. Best of all, classes are offered at four PCC centers, including right here at the PCC OMIC Training Center, plus online. All are welcome!

Ready to build confidence, gain skills, and make a plan for your future? Reach out at [email protected] or 971-722-2688, or learn more here: https://www.pcc.edu/opportunity-center/jobs/college-career-prep-team/

Curious about college? Attend a no-cost exploration class, and we’ll help you make a plan for your future. All are welcome! College & Career Prep classes help you explore in-demand...

08/11/2026

Ready for a change? Ready for a new living wage job and a different path to a more exciting future? Follow the light of the arc to your successful future with PCC's Maritime Training Program.

Offered in partnership with Vigor Marine Group and taught on-site at Vigor's Swan Island shipyard, this two-year certificate puts you right in the center of maritime activity and shipyard repair. You'll gain industry-recognized training and hands-on experience learning Flux Cored Arc Welding, maritime fabrication, pipe welding and fitting, and welder certification prep, all skills employers value. There's no better place to train than a real, active shipyard.

This is the kind of work that helps make our country strong and our Pacific fleet stronger. Skilled welders are the backbone of American shipbuilding, and this program helps you become one of them. Good jobs. Great future. Stronger community.

Questions? Reach Todd Barnett at [email protected] or 971-329-6643, or Luke Reyes White at [email protected].
Learn more: pcc.edu/locations/maritime-welding/

08/08/2026

We know getting all the way out to OMIC can be a bit of a haul sometimes, so here's something that might help: PCC's Rideshare program makes it easy to team up with fellow students and staff heading your same direction.

Through a free tool called Get There, you can find people with similar routes and schedules, log your trips, and even win prizes for choosing greener ways to get around. You decide how wide to cast the net, matching with the whole Portland Metro region or just the PCC network. It's a simple way to save on gas, cut down on parking stress, and share the drive. One tip: check with your insurance company to confirm carpooling is covered under your policy.

Ready to find your ride crew? Sign up for free: https://www.pcc.edu/transportation/alternatives/ride-sharing/

Rideshare is a new program offered by PCC to encourage students who would normally drive separately to ride to campus together. What if I Don't Know Anyone Who Wants to...

08/06/2026

A huge thank you to Qorvo, Inc. for hosting our Columbia Works interns yesterday! Our students walked away with a real sense of what a career in advanced manufacturing can look like.

Qorvo brings core RF and power technologies to markets spanning automotive, defense and aerospace, mobile, and more. The team explained it all in a way that made complex semiconductor work click, and the in-depth tours were absolutely phenomenal. And to every volunteer who shared their story: thank you. Hearing real career journeys from the people living them is what makes these visits so powerful.

We're so grateful for partners like Qorvo who invest in the next generation of manufacturing talent!

Learn more about Columbia Works: https://www.pcc.edu/locations/columbia-county/columbia-works-internship/