BayState Works - Massachusetts Workforce Board Association

Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund received 65 proposals from dozens of employer, labor, education and workforce partnerships requesting more than $29 million in funding. Grant decisions were announced June 7, 2007, by Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Suzanne Bump at an event held at Massasoit Community College in Brockton. Secretary Bump was joined by Brockton Mayor James Harrington and Massasoit Community College President Charles Wall in announcing $10 million of grants to 20 partnerships of employers, workers, education, community based and workforce organizations.

Secretary Suzanne Bump announces Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund Grants

(l-r) Massasoit CC President Charles Wall, Brockton Mayor James Harrington, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Suzanne Bump

List of awardees

Read Governor's Press Release

Read Workforce Solutions Group Statement

NEWS COVERAGE

CCTimes6.8.07.doc

LynnItem6.8.07.doc

Massasoittoreceivestateworkforcecash.doc

Representative Thomas Kennedy joins Ed Lofgren from the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association during the announcement that Massasoit Community College would lead the Jobs in Boating project.

Secretary Bump along with her mother congratulate Michael Martin who provided a moving account on his successful experience in the At Your Service Program, a WCTF grant recipient.

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) is the hallmark of the Workforce Solutions Act, a three-year initiative focused on several critical industry sectors. It is designed to enable a broad range of residents—including older workers, low-wage workers, low-income individuals, disabled citizens, vulnerable youth, incumbent workers and the unemployed—to gain access to employment, education and the skills necessary to move forward along a career path leading to economic self-sufficiency. Read more...

Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund sector approach and requirements of legislation. PPT

Decisions expected early May 2007

Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund Request for Proposals ...RFP

See regional MAP

Regional Allocations PDF

Complete list of members... PDF

Funding allocations will be:

$2 million will be allocated to Planning and Implementation grants, to be distributed through a state-level competitive process.
Funds for Health Care and Travel and Tourism will be distributed among the regions using an allocation formula for competition within regions. There will be a minimum of two (2) health care grants and one (1) travel and tourism grant across the state.
The $1 million dollar earmark for older workers will be apportioned through a combination of regional and state-level competitive processes.
$7 million (plus the older work funds, above) will be allocated to the regions

The Recent Economic Trends in Massachusetts: Which are critical industries? Navjeet Singh, Vice President Research and Evaluation CommCorp. Read presentation PPT

BayState Works

Ongoing Initiative Sections

In its 2000 report: New Skills for a New Economy: Adult Basic Educations Key Role in Sustaining Economic Growth and Expanding Opportunity, MassInc. revealed that nearly one third of Massachusetts workforce lacked the necessary literacy, education, and critical thinking skills for promotion beyond entry-level positions. Businesses were already experiencing lower productivity and higher turnover in their workforce; the problem would only worsen without a coordinated response. Through 4 rounds of funding under the Building Essential Skills through Training (BEST) and BayState Works Initiatives, the Commonwealth mobilized to enhance workers skills by offering basic education and sector-specific skills training. Employers developed partnerships with workforce investment boards, unions, community-based organizations, and education and training providers to create industry-targeted training programs. More than 3,000 entry-level and newly hired workers have built on their essential skills and education through 13 BEST and BEST Older Youth projects led by Workforce Investment Boards. Eighteen new projects currently focus on providing remediation and career development opportunities for older youth, adults, and older workers in industries ranging from health care, manufacturing, human services, hospitality, and culinary arts to finance and banking, aerospace, commercial drivers, automotive and other trades, education, information technology, and nursing. Read more...

To read more about the initial BEST and BEST Older Youth Projects go to:

BEST

BEST Older Youth