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On June 25, 2025, the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board was honored to host Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones and her team as part of the MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour, a statewide celebration of local and regional workforce innovations.

The tour began at the New Bedford Harbor Walk for a view of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, operated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). Carlos Avila (New Bedford Ocean Cluster) and Tim Griffin & Jeannie Houde (MassCEC) delivered presentations. The 26-acre Marine Commerce Terminal is the nation’s first facility specifically built to support offshore wind energy development to serve as a hub for the construction, assembly, and deployment of wind projects.

Next, the group toured Red’s Best Seafood, a seafood processing and distribution company. Founder Jared Auerbach welcomed the participants and shared his deep passion for the seafood industry and its essential role in the local workforce and community.

The third stop brought the group to the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal, where company president Andrew Saunders greeted them. Once the site of an electrical power plant, the terminal has been repurposed to provide storage and laydown areas for equipment and materials, berth facilities for a wide range of vessels, and office space for teams supporting the offshore wind.

The final destination was Bristol Community College’s National Offshore Wind Institute (NOWI). Bristol’s Interim Vice President for Economic and Business Development, Brianne McDonough, and her staff hosted the tour. Offering a comprehensive suite of Global Wind Organization (GWO) safety trainings, including Basic Safety Training, Basic Technical Training, Advanced Rescue Training, and Enhanced First Aid. This state-of-the-art facility supports training for offshore and onshore wind, maritime industries, first responders, and the oil and gas sectors, among others.

This tour underscored the vital role of New Bedford’s waterfront and its significant contributions to workforce development and the regional economy.