[Salem, OR] – Garten Services, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, is thrilled to announce the launch of its innovative Landscape Professional Training Program in collaboration with local landscape companies and Chemeketa Community College. This program, made possible by generous grant funding from the Oregon Community Foundation and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, is designed to meet the increasing demand for skilled landscape professionals in the industry.
Officially launched on March 4, 2024, the Landscape Professional Training Program covers a wide range of fundamental landscape techniques, including tool safety and the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), irrigation, hardscapes, softscapes, and identifying native plants. Hosted at Chemeketa’s new state-of-the-art Horticulture Building, the program features both classroom and field components, allowing trainees to apply their skills in real-life settings.
“We are incredibly excited to introduce this groundbreaking program in partnership with Chemeketa Community College,” said Alyssa Lockwood, Resource Development Manager of Garten. “Thanks to the generous funding from the Oregon Community Foundation and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we can offer this transformative opportunity to individuals seeking careers in landscaping. Our aim is to equip participants with valuable skills to enter and advance in the landscape industry.”
The Landscape Professional Training Program is offered free of charge to participants with and without disabilities, with ten trainees having begun the program. In addition to acquiring new skills, participants receive a non-credited certificate from Chemeketa Community College upon completion of the program. Each participant is also be awarded a stipend of $1,400 to support their commitment and dedication throughout the training.
The collaboration between Garten, Chemeketa Community College, local landscape companies and the generous grant funders underscores a shared commitment to providing equitable training opportunities for individuals aspiring to excel in the landscape industry.
For more information about Garten’s Landscape Professional Training Program, please visit garten.org or contact Brian Clark at bclark@garten.org.
Founded in 1970, Garten provides job training, employment, and day activity services to approximately 500 people with disabilities throughout the Willamette Valley.
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Garten Hawthorne
500 Hawthorne Ave SE, Salem, OR 97309
PO Box 13970, Salem, OR 97309
Phone: 503-581-1984, Fax: 503-589-3119
www.garten.org