Nearly 12 percent of Oregon's labor force was unemployed in September, including a segment of the work force many don't think about in terms of job losses - high-tech entrepreneurs and scientists.

Barbara Bessey, coordinator of the Willamette Valley Bioscience Consortium, is trying to build a bridge between employers and dislocated workers with a program supported by $133,000 in federal stimulus money.

"These are highly talented, creative people," explained Bessey, a staff member at Linn-Benton Community College. "We're talking $100,000 per year professional jobs."

The majority of the jobs at this point are in the Portland area, Bessey said.

"We are working with companies to identify the jobs they would like filled," Bessey said. "For many of these companies, their work is controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. It's completely different than other industries. So, it's difficult to find qualified staff who can work within the FDA system."

The consortium-sponsored program has helped companies design 30- to 60-day internships. Participants also must complete 80 hours of classroom work that includes an introduction to the FDA system, company information and technical writing.

"We have also negotiated with the state so the workers can continue to draw their unemployment benefits while participating in this program," Bessey said. "It's the first time something of this nature has been done."

Work System Inc. is overseeing the funding portion of the project. There are nine internships in the first round, with funding for up to 15 in an upcoming second round.

The Willamette Valley Bioscience Consortium has members from Salem to Eugene, Bessey said. The program has been funded in part by the Governor's Strategic Training Fund, but will become self-sustaining in December.

The consortium's main goal is to put industry leaders together to learn about each other's companies, so they can either work together on projects or help sell mid-valley companies in the course of their normal business operations.

"Can the industries collaborate on processes or joint marketing?" Bessey asked, "Our goal is to increase revenue streams of the companies involved and bring more money into the Willamette Valley. Together, we have a better chance, than alone."

A steering committee meets monthly and the consortium meets quarterly, Bessey said. Steering committee chair is Len Blackstone of Blackstone Strategic Marketing in Cottage Grove. Other committee members include Tom Fleischman, Bioanalytical Systems Inc., McMinnville; Steve Dunfield, Life Microsystems, Corvallis; Fred Vetter, Oregon Freeze Dry, Albany; Steve Smith, Tec Laboratories, Albany; Greg Hahn, Synthetech, Albany; Mary Foley Phillips, Oregon State University Office of Tech Transfer, Corvallis.

Alex Paul, a reporter for the Albany Democrat-Herald, is a frequent contributor to Mid-Valley InBusiness.