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WORKFORCE CONNECTIONS - Vol 34
In This Issue:
  • State and Federal Policy Updates: FY23 Budget on Governor's Desk, UI and Economic Data Updates, DOL Apprenticeship Announcements and Seeking Input on How to Support Workers with Long COVID
  • MWA Updates: Save the Date for 13th Annual Jobs and Workforce Summit, Racial Equity Resources, September Lunch & Learn, HKS Students Support Non-profits
  • Member Updates: MassHire Greater Brockton has Successful Summer Youth Programs, Save the Date for MassForward WIOA Partner Event and MassHire Awards
  • News From Around the Sector: Jobs, funding, news and updates
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PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES
State Public Policy
State House
FY23 Budget on Governor Baker's Desk

Last week, the House and Senate each passed the conference committee's final FY23 budget bill. MWA would like to thank Senate President Spilka, Speaker Mariano, Chairman Rodrigues, Chairman Michlewitz, Chairwoman Jehlen, Chairman Cutler and the entire Legislature for this historic investment in job training and workforce development.

See here for an updated MWA budget sheet with additional details, but some of the highlights include:
  • $15M for Career Centers
  • $20.4M for Career Technical Institutes (CTI)
  • $17M for WCTF
  • $27.8M for YouthWorks ($28.5M w/earmarks)
  • $8M for Connecting Activities ($8.65M w/earmarks)
  • $1M for Learn to Earn 
  • $2.5M for Manufacturing (EOHED line item)
  • $3.75M Re-Entry Demonstration

If you haven't yet, this is a great time to thank your local Representatives and Senators for supporting workforce development and investing in skill building. We are particularly pleased with the $5.5M increased investment in the one-stop career center line item. The Governor has until Friday to sign the budget bill or send back any vetoes. We will keep you updated as developments occur.
Bill Extending Certain Pandemic Accommodations Signed

On July 16th, Acting Governor Polito signed legislation extending certain pandemic flexibilities (including provisions for remote open meetings, remote corporate meetings, and virtual notarization) until March 2023.

You can see the full text of the bill here.
Education to Career Data Hub Launch

Earlier this month the Massachusetts Education-to-Career Research and Data Hub (E2C Hub) website was launched to increase access to education data and research. The website includes a directory of data sets and reports with publicly available data from early education, K-12, postsecondary, to career. You can view the website here.

New State Grants Announced!
New Round of CTI Grants
On July 22nd the Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $32 million in grants to modernize equipment at career technical programs and fund new training programs under CTI. You can learn more about the grants here and see the list of grantees here.

Community Colleges Awarded $15M
On July 11th the Baker-Polito Administration awarded $15 million in workforce training grants to the Commonwealth’s 15 community colleges. These grants will support the creation and expansion of training programs in high-demand industries, such healthcare, education, manufacturing, IT, and cybersecurity. You can learn more about the grants here.
June 2022 Unemployment and Economic Data
On July 22nd, the state released the unemployment rate for June 2022 and the revised rate for May 2022. Click here to read the July 22nd state press release. Massachusetts' June rate decreased 0.2 percentage point from May to 3.7 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the national rate. The MA labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 66 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the prior year. The labor force decreased by 2,300 from May. Since June 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates Massachusetts gained 164,700 jobs. The largest over the year gains occurred in Leisure and Hospitality; Professional, Scientific, and Business Services; and Education and Health Services. Click here to read the state press release. Local unemployment estimates for June were released on 7/26. The most recent local press release can be found here.

The Boston Globe published an article earlier this month which interviewed local Massachusetts economists Alan Clayton-Matthews and Mark Melnik on the impact of a wobbly economy on the workforce. Click here to read more.

Claims Data
On July 21st, the state released the monthly unemployment claim data for June. The state had 24,761 initial claims for regular unemployment insurance, an increase of 7,001 from the previous month. Most initial claims were in Construction, Food and Accommodation, and Health Care and Social Assistance. Continued weeks claimed decreased by 7,213 to 202,269. Most decreases were in Transportation and Warehousing, Food Service and Accommodation, and Health Care and Social Assistance. Click here for the claims press release.
Federal Public Policy
Capital Building_ Washington DC
Congress Returns from Recess, Any Action Remains Unlikely

Last week the House and Senate returned from their annual July 4th recess for a three-week work period before the upcoming August recess. With midterms getting closer, there is an urgency to pass legislative priorities including FY23 Appropriations, the Bipartisan Innovation Act, and a significantly smaller reconciliation bill.
 
As reported last month, the House Committee on Appropriations approved legislation for the upcoming FY23 federal fiscal year set to begin October 1st. The bill proposes a nearly 11% increase in funding for core Title I formula programs authorized under WIOA. At present, the House is focused on passing the federal defense budget with plans to formally pass the remaining funding bills, including the measure that provides funding for WIOA, sometime later this month. Formal progress on federal funding legislation in the Senate has not yet started. Unless lawmakers can find consensus ahead of October 1st, the likelihood that Congress will need to pass another continuing resolution (CR) increases significantly.
Lots of Apprenticeship Announcements!

$121M Awarded Nationwide, $8M to MA, for Apprenticeship Building America Grants - U.S. DOL announced the grant awards, with Sec. Walsh highlighting that these grants, "...will develop new pathways to good-quality jobs and provide America’s workers with opportunities to access and succeed in those pathways; and the intentional focus on equity partnerships and pre-apprenticeship activities will create opportunities for underrepresented and underserved communities.” The City of Boston and Jobs for the Future received awards in Massachusetts. Click here for the press release and here for WGBH coverage of the MA announcement.

Apprenticeship Standards Builder Tool Released - U.S. DOL released a new tool to support apprenticeship sponsors in developing the standards necessary to have their apprenticeship programs registered. Click here to learn more and use the tool.

Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint - U.S. DOL announced a 120-day sprint to promote registered apprenticeships in cybersecurity, with a focus on equipping underrepresented populations with skills for these jobs. Click here to learn more about the sprint and here to express interest in participating.
U.S. DOL Looks for Input in Understanding and Addressing the Workplace Challenges Associated with Long COVID
Some people who had COVID-19 go on to experience new or lingering symptoms—a condition called long COVID. In these cases, symptoms can last weeks or months and can include shortness of breath, fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations, headaches, anxiety, depression and other symptoms. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is committed to supporting workers with long COVID, as well as their employers.

U.S. DOL is looking for input as they seek to collaborate on long COVID-related policies, practices and initiatives. You can share your experiences, insights, and possible solutions to workplace challenges posed by long COVID here.
MWA UPDATES
Racial Justice in Workforce Development Resources
September Lunch & Learn: Meeting Customers Where They Are: Mobile Career Center Services
Save the Date! On September 13th at 12PM, MWA will be hosting a peer learning opportunity with MassHire Greater Brockton and MassHire North Shore Career Centers. Staff from these organizations will share their novel approaches to reaching customers where they are in the community, rather than waiting for them to come through their doors. Click here to register. For more information about the Brockton program, click here.
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Offers Free Graduate Student Support for Non-Profits, Public Sector
Trained in economics, quantitative analysis, strategic and financial management, political advocacy, and leadership as well as in different policy areas, second-year Masters in Public Policy (MPP) students work with organizations to address challenges and find smart, actionable answers. The Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) experience is the MPP capstone requirement, and allows HKS students to work with your organization either independently or in a small team, from September to March, to examine a public or nonprofit sector policy or management issue, and gain real-world experience. Working under HKS faculty supervision, students produce a professional analysis and set of actionable recommendations for your organization that lend fresh perspective on a new or familiar challenge. Many PAE clients have carried out students’ recommendations and often point to the PAE as a smart move for their organization. Click here to learn more and here to apply.
MassHire Greater Brockton Workforce Board Kicks Off Summer Youth Programs
MassHire Greater Brockton kicked off Summer 2022 with its Volunteer WAVE Program which provides an opportunity for youth ages 14 & 15 to gain valuable work experience. These young people Work, Achieve, Volunteer, and Explore what it'll be like when they get their first jobs.

Through their annual Summer Internship Program, funded through YouthWorks, MassHire Greater Brockton has placed more than 150 young people ages 16-21 in paid ($15.50/hr) 6-week long internships this summer. In addition to training, these young people receive paid work experience and make connections for future employment opportunities.
Save the Date: MassForward WIOA Partner Convening September 14 & 15 in Worcester
On September 14 and 15, the MassHire System will convene with their state and local WIOA partners for a conference to celebrate successes and to strengthen partnerships. In addition, the 4th Annual MassHire Day Awards will be announced and celebrated on Thursday, 9/15. More information to come.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SECTOR
There are so many job postings and funding announcements, we moved our News from Around the Sector section to our website, where you can access the news, jobs, funding announcements and more anytime throughout the month. Go to: www.massworkforce.com/around-the-sector.

Here is a sample of the funding opportunities, jobs, and more posted on our website today:
  • Equus Workforce Solutions, the new operator of the MassHire New Bedford Career Center, is hiring a Career Center Director (aka Project Director) for the MassHire New Bedford Career Center. Click here to learn more and apply.
  • Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) / MassHire Boston Workforce Board is hiring a Youth Transitions Coordinator, Re-Engagement Specialist, and a Career Specialist. Click here to learn more and apply.
  • Boston Partners in Education is hiring a Partnerships Manager and a Director of Development. Click here to learn more and apply.
  • English for New Bostonians is hiring a Business Partnerships Manager that would work directly with their Workplace ESOL Initiative. Click here for the job description and to learn how to apply.
  • The Mass Dept. of Correction has issued a $5M total RFP for the Supporting Successful Reentry Program. Applications are due August 5th. Click here to download the RFP.
  • The UMass Donahue Institute is holding a webinar series in Fall 2022 for new managers. Designed for those with limited experience in managing direct reports, these interactive webinars are focused on core skills that any manager should master to be effective in engaging, developing and retaining talent, and driving the performance of their team members. Designed to engage the participant and to stimulate dialogue amongst peers. Click here to learn more and apply.
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