Old Town program helps people in recovery build careers in footwear, apparel

Published 1:28 pm Monday, March 31, 2025

Design, prototyping and advanced manufacturing are among the skills people in recovery will use as résumé builders, thanks to a new partnership in Old Town.

CityTeam Portland and Made in Old Town announced Monday, March 31, an initiative to create internships and workforce development programs for the residents of CityTeam’s addiction recovery program.

These programs aim to equip the residents with hands-on experience and marketable skills in Portland’s globally recognized footwear and apparel industry, according to a press release.

“Through this collaboration, both organizations — and the broader Old Town community — stand to benefit,” Lance Orton, executive director of CityTeam Portland, said in a news release announcing the partnership. “This program offers our residents meaningful pathways into the workforce while contributing to the ongoing revitalization of one of Portland’s most iconic neighborhoods.”

Made in Old Town is an innovation campus for footwear and apparel located in the heart of Portland. This economic development project is owned by Old Town Purpose Trust, which is dedicated to benefitting the Old Town neighborhood.

The project is underway, transforming four blocks and nine historic buildings into hubs for design, entrepreneurship and local manufacturing.

CityTeam Portland, a nonprofit that serves those experiencing homelessness, addiction and more, started 25 years ago in Portland and recently acquired the Overland Building, adjacent to MiOT’s campus.

The partnership has four core goals:

• Skills-based internships: Residents will receive hands-on experience in sample room protocol, design, prototyping processes and the use of equipment like 3D printers, or other advanced manufacturing tools.
• College accreditation: Interns will have the chance to earn college credit through coursework and certifications in partnerships with local education institutions.
• Community engagement: Participants will be encouraged to contributed to neighborhood stewardship efforts, promoting pride, responsibility and a deeper connection to Old Town.
• Career pathways: Upon completion of the program, interns will be positioned for direct employment within MiOT’s network of brands and partner organizations, offering career-track positions that extend beyond minimum wage.

CityTeam Portland’s future headquarters in Old Town is expected to be completed in September. It offers transitional housing, treatment programs and job training.

“Old Town is a tight community. This partnership shows how the organizations that call this neighborhood home can work together,” Matthew Claudel, a manager of the Made in Old Town initiative, said in a news release. “With CityTeam, we are creating a first-of-its-kind program that will offer valuable career opportunities to people who need them — and enhance the talent pipeline for the footwear and apparel industry. This is a great example of neighborhood-based economic development.”