MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board News

WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER

01/07/21

Apprenticeship Programs… the Time is Right NOW

Given the economy poised to recover and vaccine protection underway, the New Year is an opportune time for companies to explore a Registered Apprenticeship Program to meet future workforce needs.

Because they are nationally supported, standardized, and incentivized by the USA’s Department of Labor, Registered Apprentice Programs represent the “Gold Standard” of workforce training solutions. Equally attractive, they are designed to significantly benefit BOTH the Employer Sponsor and their earn-while-you-learn paid Employee Apprentice. They can also be custom adapted to almost any occupation.

Apprentice Benefits not only provide learning skills from which to build a reliable and better future, but also earn professional recognition that is acknowledged with a national credential issued by the program. Apprentices, whether learning a traditional trade or how to program a CNC machine, have the advantage of avoiding the enormous financial debt incurred and lost earnings time related to obtaining a college degree that may, or may not, result in a rewarding lifelong career. Apprenticeship training is a reliable pathway!

Employers… plan now for the future as we all know anything worthwhile takes time to develop including customizing, launching, and implementing apprenticeship training programs. For a complete introduction to the case-proven benefits of apprenticeships and how they can be successfully applied at your company, contact Rick Marshall, our Apprenticeship Integration Manager at phone number 774-425-4092 or email rickmarshall@comcast.net.

Winter's Partner Spotlight:
MassHire BizWorks

Since its inception in 2012, MassHire BizWorks has enhanced and aligned the resources and services available to businesses throughout Massachusetts. Offered by MassHire Department of Career Services' Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, this initiative partners with agencies in workforce development, economic development and education to help businesses grow and thrive.

The BizWorks' model offers assistance to employers for every stage of the business cycle. Services are available for business growth, expansion, maintenance, and downsizing.

The first program of its kind in the nation, MassHire BizWorks has been used as a model for 48 states. MassHire BizWorks' own staff have been recruited to conduct training and seminars about the initiative across the country. The MassHire BizWorks Resource Guide For Businesses is considered the gold standard and has been reproduced and emulated to fit each state's needs.

In recognition of the BizWorks' team effort, the MassHire Department of Career Services received the prestigious 2019 Pinnacle for Business Development Award from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies.

In conversations with Ken Messina, BizWorks' Business Service Manager/Rapid Response, and Ken's team, we asked that they provide real-life examples of how MassHire BizWorks has assisted Massachusetts employers.

Below is what we learned.

BizWorks Service	Real-Life Example
Free job postings Free job postings, job matching, candidate, and job fair calendar search are available on MassHire JobQuest.	Two major Southeastern Massachusetts sporting goods manufacturing companies have reported that they frequently use MassHire JobQuest's free employer services website for job posting, screening, and successful recruitment of job candidates.
Recruitment and hiring support MassHire Career Centers can assist businesses with candidate recruiting, screening and job fairs.	In a single virtual job fair conducted by MassHire Greater New Bedford Career Center for a New England grocery store chain, 6 youths were recruited and obtained jobs at one of the chain's local stores. This is just one success story among dozens of monthly MassHire Career Centers recruiting efforts and job fairs held throughout Massachusetts.
Registered apprenticeship Employers can receive assistance with registered apprenticeships and provide trainees with hands-on experience in a structured environment.	In 2018, a Hamden County integrated healthcare system consisting of a wide range of medical facilities including hospitals, medical practices, home care, hospice, laboratory and diagnostic services, faced a growing demand for acute care trained pharmacy technicians. In a collaborative effort with MassHire, a Certified Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship program was created to provide candidates advanced training and career opportunities in this growing field. In this registered apprenticeship program, candidates are hired into the pharmacy team and have the opportunity to develop professional technical skills while earning industry credentials and state licensing. To date, 6 apprentices have graduated, 7 are currently enrolled, and additional apprenticeships will start new in 2021.
Training grants Several types of employee training grants are available for employers of any size.	A New Bedford based facilities supply company was awarded a $39,000 Workforce Training Fund Programs (WTFP) grant to train 35 workers. Creation of four additional jobs is expected by 2021.
Safety grant Grants are available for up to $25,000 for workplace safety training, and free on-site consultation is available to help companies meet OSHA requirements.	A small, family owned, third generation business in Southeastern MA, who specializes in water and wastewater electrical projects throughout Massachusetts and provides upgrades to treatment plants, pump stations, water tanks and emergency generators was awarded $9,350. Their proposed training includes Fall Protection, Confined Space, Lockout Tagout and NFPA 70E Electrical Training.
On-the-Job Training (OJT) OJT programs help businesses with the cost of hiring and training employees.	The OJT Program enables employers to hire new employees and train them at their place of business while being reimbursed a percentage of the new employee's wages during training. A small family run business on the South Shore received multiple OJT Grants. This enabled them to qualify for and win a bid on a new casino that was being built.
Tax credit for hiring Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) incentives are available to companies through hiring employees from certain target populations.	October 1, 2019–December 31, 2019 “Potential” maximum tax credit of $25,081,200 to MA based employers New requests = 17,753 Certifications issued = 7,425
Tax Incentive programs - Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) incentives awarded Potential state and local tax incentives are available for businesses investing in, locating to, or expanding in Massachusetts.	A global technology company founded in 2004 that builds omni-channel Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) applications, currently occupies and leases a 35,000 sq. ft. facility in Franklin, but needs to expand. They have identified a vacant 52,700 sq. ft. building in Milford, MA, and plan to transform it into a state-of-the-art corporate headquarters and technology center. The company plans to hire 100 new employees, retain 200 full-time employees, and make an investment of $7 million. The town of Milford approved a 10-year tax increment financing (TIF) valued at approximately $530,000. In 2019 a global manufacturer of biopharmaceutical products, founded in 1927 and headquartered in Germany, purchased and now occupies an estimated 108,340 sq. ft. facility in Milford. The proposed project consists of constructing a 24,000 sq. ft. expansion to create a life sciences campus in Milford. The company plans to hire 75 new employees, retain 85 full-time employees, and make an investment of $55 million. The town of Milford approved a 12-year TIF valued at approximately $1.62 million. A food manufacturer and marketer in Haverhill, MA plans to construct a 135,000 square foot state-of-the-art distribution facility which will include a multi-temperature zone warehouse and 11 pre-made sandwich production lines. They also plan to create 354 new full-time jobs, retain 109 existing jobs, and make a private investment of $43.6 million. The city of Haverhill is approving a 10-year TIF with a value of approximately $766,286. The EACC Board has approved EDIP investment tax credits in the amount of $925,000.
Economic growth support A wide range of financial and real estate development services are available to Massachusetts entities through MassDevelopment.	MassDevelopment is launching its Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) through the $1.3 Million Barr Foundation Award. New Bedford is designated to be the first recipient city, and has been awarded a $500,000 “TDI Creative Cities” grant. The initiative is a new multiyear program for graduated TDI districts aimed at building a sustainable arts infrastructure within a city as a mechanism for supporting economic growth. Follow this link to learn more. >>>
Rapid Response Program Rapid Response can provide alternatives to closing a facility, and reduce layoffs to mitigate the impact they have on companies.	During the pandemic, the Rapid Response Team has served 731 businesses, which included 78,877 of their employees that had been affected. Rapid Response has provided guidance and numerous workshops throughout the layoff and the closing process, including information about Unemployment Assistance and MassHire Career Center services.
WorkShare Program WorkShare provides employers assistance with pay payroll costs and maintaining staff during a temporary business downturn.	The Commonwealth's Rapid Response team was able to work with and refer a large manufacturing company in Southeastern MA to the WorkShare Program. This program allowed them to keep approximately 1,200 employees working during the pandemic.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) For Workers UI Provides workers temporary income, training, and support during periods of unemployment.	Due to the drastic shift in our labor force and the high demand for UI assistance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rapid Response Team was asked to assist the Division of Unemployment Assurance. As of July 1, 2020, an incredible 42 percent of the U.S. labor force was working from home full-time. About another 33 percent were not working–a testament to the savage impact of the lockdown recession. The remaining 26 percent–mostly essential service workers–are working on their business premises.

These are only just a few real life examples of how MassHire BizWorks has assisted hundreds of businesses and impacted tens of thousands of workers throughout the state.

For more information on how MassHire BizWorks can assist your company, no matter the size or point in its business cycle, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/learn-about-masshire-bizworks.

—Thanks to Ken Messina, MassHire BizWorks, Business Services Manager/Rapid Response and his team for their contribution.

New Bedford High School Awarded a $250,000 Skills Capital Education Grant

Congratulations to Christopher Cummings, Manager of Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) at New Bedford Public Schools. New Bedford High School has been awarded a $250,000 Skills Capital Education Institutions grant from Massachusetts’s Baker-Polito Administration. The grant is part of an $11.7 million allocation to 47 educational institutions across the Commonwealth to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education. Grant awards require an endorsement by their respective local MassHire Workforce Board and must align with the region’s strategic labor market blueprint.

New Bedford High School will be using the award to establish a Marine Manufacturing Training laboratory to prepare students for careers in marine and maritime industries. The laboratory will be outfitted with traditional and virtual welding equipment and carpentry training equipment.

Career & College Planning:
MassHire Greater New Bedford Youth Team the Path from There to Here

As professionals in workforce development, MassHire Greater New Bedford Youth Team wants to share with young people that a path to a career is not always straight, can take many turns, and the destination may not even be on the GPS when you start out. In this piece, our Youth Team candidly shares their own school to career experiences to demonstrate where they started before arriving in workforce development. The road map of a career continues to change throughout.

Andrea McLaughlin – Youth Council Director, MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board

From my childhood years, spending time with my siblings having fun together and playing pretend school at home combined with my passion to help others has lead me on an incredible life journey.

Planning for college as a high school student was difficult for me because the guidance department at school was a place to go to get out of class, not for planning my future. My foundation was at home with consistent support and guidance from my loving parents.

My parents were college graduates in business, who successfully owned and operated a Carvel Ice Cream Franchise for 30 years. As much as I loved ice cream, I had no intentions in taking over the business. My parents expected my siblings and me to graduate with a college degree, as they had in order to get a start in life. The tough part for me was deciding on a college career pathway.

I decided to attend Bristol Community College (BCC) to allow myself time to figure things out and complete my core studies. I earned an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. I have since been a lifelong learner and earned a Master Degree in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology (BMEBT) and am currently a PhD candidate in BMEBT from The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth).

“Don’t ever compare yourself to others. You are not a copy, you are an original.” ―Yvonne I. Wilson, Motivational Speaker

Brian Silva-Boutwell – Connecting Activities Coordinator, MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board

I was somewhat of a driverless car in high school. I went to class and did the minimum, but really didn’t invest in myself or in my studies. I only got by when I had the smarts to be better and took the path of least resistance. Because of this, I never really thought about life after high school. I knew I liked sports and wrestling and wanted to do something in broadcast journalism. I only applied to one college, Massasoit, and was accepted.

My parents were good people, but I think some of their apathy rubbed off on me, because they never made any plans to help me with a college or post-secondary education. They never invested or saved for tuition. I attended for a year and then stopped. I felt it was a waste of time because I wasn’t invested, my high school attitude carried over. It took me ten years of various jobs to figure out what I wanted to do in order to get back into school and eventually earn an Associate Degree in Communications from BCC and a Bachelor degree in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (UMass Dartmouth).

My advice to you is to cultivate your self-worth and pursue your passion. Really invest and think about what kind of career you want and what makes you happy. Do what you love; the money will follow.

Justin Grota – Lead Youth Case Manager, MassHire Greater New Bedford Career Center

I grew up loving anything with wheels, by age sixteen work and having the coolest car were my top priority.

My family takes pride in hard work and values education. My mother always knew what I really cared about specifically, other people. She always believed that I belonged in human services because I have a passion for helping others.

Upon graduating high school, I went away to the Junior State Trooper Program, which is a boot camp for youth interested in law enforcement. Providing me with a new perspective, I learned discipline and self-reliance while falling in love with the idea of pursuing a career in law enforcement. By the end of the program, I was determined on getting into college as fast as possible.

I earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from BCC and continued by earning a Bachelor Degree from Bridgewater State University (BSU).

A career pathway in law enforcement as a young man showed me there were many problems young people faced in the community. My care for people in the community drove me towards law enforcement showing me that I specifically wanted to help young people, like my mother had predicted.

My advice is constantly do a mental checklist on where your heart and passion may lie. Take chances, embrace change, and keep your eyes open for opportunity. There is always a great deal of failure in learning new things and pursuing goals but failure is where you learn the most about yourself.

Chelsea Burke – Youth Case Manager, MassHire Greater New Bedford Career Center

Ever since I was a little girl, I always knew that someday I wanted to be a journalist. I loved talking to people and hearing their stories, and I had a passion for writing. When I was in high school, I joined the school newspaper and took all of the media and journalism classes offered. My parents had taught me from a young age that education was extremely important, so I knew I had to do well in all of my classes and participate in extracurricular activities. I played sports every season in high school, and I even participated in afterschool clubs.

When it was time to look at colleges, my mother insisted I apply to Syracuse University, her Alma Mater, but I knew that I wanted to stay in Massachusetts and go to a state school. I did not see the point of paying an exorbitant amount of money for school when I would not make that much after graduation. I ended up following my brother to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMASS Amherst), where I studied Journalism and Spanish.

During college, I fell in love with radio journalism, and I was sure that this is what I would be doing for the rest of my life. Of course, that ended up not being the case. After college, I did not immediately apply for journalism jobs. Instead, I continued working at the Boys and Girls Club for another year before I got a job as a Residential Counselor working with teenage girls with mental illness. All of those years working with children and teenagers made me realize that journalism was actually not my true passion. Now, I am currently in graduate school at Bridgewater State University (BSU) working on a Master of Social Work Degree.

My advice is to really think about what you want to do after you graduate. While college was definitely the right path for me, it is not for everyone. However, there are other options for training and furthering your education, and of course, there are plenty of people who can help you find your path–don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Kim Rioux – Coordinator of Workforce Programs, One SouthCoast Chamber

As a junior and senior in high school, I remember sitting in the guidance counselor’s office thinking “What am I supposed to do with the rest of my life and how am I to know my path?” Since my older brother and sister were already at college–and since that was what most of my peers were doing–why not? I didn’t have any specific career goals, but knew I wanted to explore the infinite possibilities prior to becoming a professional in my career. No matter the path I chose, I knew I would only learn by doing. I finished my senior year of high school strong by completing my academics diligently and trying to cherish every moment I could on the soccer field and track. I showed up each day doing my best. My college years unfolded a little differently, but–as I mentioned earlier–I would only know by doing. I attended BCC and earned an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and then transferred to Springfield College and earned a Bachelor of Science in General Studies.

Life lesson: do what you do with love and you will be successful wherever you go; trust yourself.

Congratulations Andrea McLaughlin!

Congratulations to Andrea McLaughlin on her promotion to MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board Youth Council Director. Andrea also celebrated her two year anniversary with the Board in November.

IF YOU ARE COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT AND HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY SEPARATED FROM YOUR JOB DUE TO COVID-19, WE WANT TO HELP YOU TRANSITION INTO A CAREER IN MANUFACTURING.

MassHire is planning a statewide virtual manufacturing module-based, exploratory program targeting unemployed workers throughout the state to look towards manufacturing careers as a means to becoming gainfully employed.

NOTE TO EMPLOYERS:

MassHire will Provide Direct Employment Using On–the-Job Training (OJT).

Provide direct employment in manufacturing to participating claimants using the On-the-Job Training (OJT) job creation and coaching model.

Manufacturing Training Models

You’ll be able to use a training platform called ToolingU that will provide flexible and self-paced curriculum modules to learn about working in the manufacturing industry including access to a technical content expert who will provide technical and academic support to ensure you have a successful learning experience. You’ll also have access to career center services for soft-skills workshops and job placement. Completion of some of these virtual training modules will allow potential entrance into additional manufacturing trainings programs in your local area.

MassHire One Stop Career Centers across the state will provide you with individualized support including coaching, monitoring and follow-up to UI claimants for exploration, training, and employment in the manufacturing industry.

THESE VIRTUAL COURSES WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH CAREER AWARENESS AND SKILLS FOR ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

STAY TUNED AND IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MASSHIRE CAREER COUNSELOR TO FIND OUT WHEN THIS PROGRAM WILL START.

THIS INITIATIVE IS FUNDED BY THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WHY SAMC?

SAMC focuses on connecting manufacturers with the resources for developing a sustainable, talented pipeline of employees. We achieve this by providing input on educating and training for your current and future workforce, and by identifying best practices in advanced manufacturing workforce activities.

Visit www.samcnetwork.org today.

MANUFACTURERS REGISTER FREE!

Visit www.samcnetwork.org/calendar/ for a complete list of training, workshops, seminars, meetings and industry events for advanced manufacturing.

In case you missed it.... earlier this year.

MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board presented the YouthWorks 2020 Summer Jobs for Youth award to our teacher Site Supervisors in recognition of #youthworksstrong!

Congratulations, thanks, and much appreciation for a job well done by our team of Site Supervisors.

Dartmouth HS
Marc Hayes
Fairhaven HS
Annie Pegg
New Bedford Career Center
Christina Baptiste
Rosali Campos-Ramos
New Bedford HS
Valerie Alves
Steve Estevez
Fred Pimental
Nick Salmon
Jamie Sylvia
Unaffiliated
Nick Knight

MassHire was HONORED to participate as a partner for the US Census working with Lynn Coish, New Bedford’s Complete Count Committee Coordinator. We posted articles from the City and MassHire Workforce Association on our website and social media, including jobs available at the Census. We reminded all our followers to complete the census, tweeted all the fun things teachers could do with students, and reminded staff, family and friends to follow through. We continually reminded our followers of the importance of census completion with many flyers and reports telling why answering is important to our community.

Oct 30, 2020
James Oliveira, MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board Executive Director, was featured in the City of New Bedford’s Cable Network Public Access Television “A Conversation With…” with host Jim Marshall for a discussion about the Workforce Board and employment initiatives in the region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7EtRFxYJ7s

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WINTER'S FEATURED RESOURCE

There’s a little something for everyone, training vendors, job seekers and employers!

Note to Training Providers - DYK that you can put your training programs on-line.

MassHire TrainingPro is an online application provided by the MassHire Division of Career Services (MHDCS). It allows training organizations to provide services to eligible customers. You must submit your training courses for approval.

To apply (be considered) for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding, you must be qualified and on the Massachusetts' Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). To qualify, you must submit the required documents to the MassHire Department of Career Services (MDCS). MDCS will review your application and required documentation to determine overall financial stability and programmatic capacity. Visit www.mass.gov for the most current information on provider requirements.

Learn about MassHire TrainingPro
This online service makes it easy for your training programs to reach a wide audience of potential students. Register now.

Note to Job Seekers – DYK you can access these free trainings and talk with your career counselors to see if you are eligible.

Access all the trainings in your area by using Job Quest
https://jobquest.dcs.eol.mass.gov/jobquest/Default.aspx

Note to Employers – DYK there was a spot on Job Quest just for you. A place where you can:

Post jobs > schedule an appointment with a Business Service Representative> file your "PERM" related job orders > learn about Mass BizWorks > find candidates - total candidates 24,761
https://jobquest.dcs.eol.mass.gov/jobquest/Employers/

Explore Workforce Resources on MassHire GNBWB Website!

ABOUT US

The MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board is a business-led, policy-setting board that oversees workforce development initiatives in the ten-community region stretching from Dartmouth to Wareham, MA. Appointed by New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, the Board is composed of business, civic, education, labor, and community leaders.

The workforce board oversees workforce development efforts in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Lakeville, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester, and Wareham. The board oversees the MassHire Greater New Bedford Career Center operated jointly by The WorkPlace and the MassHire Division of Career Services (MDCS).

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board is one of 16 similar Boards in Massachusetts. Workforce Investment Boards direct federal, state, and private funding for educational and occupational skills programs.

In addition to responsibilities mandated under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), Boards have been called upon to play a major role in a variety of workforce initiatives, and to define the board’s goals based on local community needs.

ABOUT OUR CAREER CENTER

The MassHire Greater New Bedford Career Center serves as a hub of activity focused on connecting job seekers and employers, to meet the employment and career advancement needs of individuals and the workforce needs of businesses. The Career Center is dedicated to providing high quality services in a professional and welcoming environment, including counseling, education, technology to support job search, labor market information and recruitment opportunities for businesses.

MHGNBWB FY20 EFFORTS

Secured $5,014,400 in Workforce Board grants
Facilitated $4,430,200 in Partners grants with an additional $1,350,000 grants still in process
Spearheaded initiatives in Manufacturing, Youth Programs, WIOA Planning, Apprenticeship and collaboration in our Regional Labor Market Blueprint

MHGNBWB FY20 OUTCOMES

4308 job seekers and 491 employers served through our Career Center
796 job seekers entered employment with an estimated return to the community of between $10.4M and $24.4M in annual wages
Pre-COVID 90 individuals completed manufacturing training in regional Workforce Board sponsored programs. Post-COVID Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development pre-approved $125K in manufacturing grant funds were repurposed for safety training, apprenticeship liaisons, and 2 virtual welding machines with over 40 virtual training modules included
78% completion rate for WIOA Out-of-School Youth programs with 4 vendors and 44 participants completing the program
Our Connecting Activities Program served 4,500 youth participants throughout 9 schools, with 3 additional schools signing on for 2021
Our YouthWorks Summer 2019 served 191 participants at 26 different employer worksites
Our SouthEast Cyber Security Program 2019 had an 83% completion rate with 24 student participants and 16+ employer sponsors
Initial planning and implementation strategies for a Youth Council coming in FY21

OUR MISSION
MassHire creates and sustains powerful connections between businesses and job seekers through a statewide network of employment professionals.

OUR VISION
MassHire envisions a better future for people and businesses of Massachusetts through meaningful work and sustainable growth.

OUR PROMISE
MassHire promises to champion prosperity, connecting employers with talent and job seekers with tools, services, and connections to achieve meaningful and sustained employment.

OUR VALUES

COLLABORATION
MassHire believes in the power of partnership and streamlined integration of services to achieve effective and timely results for those we serve.
RESPECT
MassHire is committed to understanding and valuing the diverse, unique requirements and professional goals of the businesses and people we serve.
RELIABILITY
MassHire creates trust and reliability by consistently delivering high quality professional services at each location and in every interaction.
INGENUITY
MassHire leverages flexibility, expertise, and knowledge to successfully meet our mission, regardless of new challenges and circumstances.

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