Source: Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
December 10, 2020
Four workforce development consortiums will train more than 540 unemployed and under-mployed residents in advanced manufacturing
ANDOVER — Today, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy joined John Lavoie, Superintendent-Director of the Greater Lawrence Technical School, regional workforce leaders and state and local officials to announce $2.5 million to four regional consortiums. This funding is being awarded through the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program to address the skills gap by creating a fully coordinated manufacturing training system to connect residents to full-time employment and meet the needs of regional industry.
The Advanced Manufacturing Training Program enables regional partnerships to develop, coordinate and maintain regional, comprehensive manufacturing workforce development systems that effectively meet the needs of manufacturers. Regional systems will provide workforce development services in advanced manufacturing, including recruitment, job training, placement and supportive services. The consortiums expect more than 540 unemployed and under-employed residents to be trained in advanced manufacturing through this year’s funding.
“Advanced manufacturing is a key industry of the Commonwealth’s innovation economy, and our administration continues to support the pathways and skill-building necessary for residents to start successful careers,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Manufacturing is increasingly reliant on advanced and emerging technologies, and today’s grants will help Massachusetts to create a workforce that positions the state and industry for future growth.”
“Our administration is proud of the strong regional manufacturing clusters that help anchor regional economies in Massachusetts and have been pleased to fund the purchasing of new, industry-standard equipment at schools across the Commonwealth,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “I am thrilled to announce these awards, which represent more than 180 partner organizations, at Greater Lawrence Technical School, one of our regional workforce partners and an academic institution that exemplifies our commitment to career training and education, as well as pathways to success.”
Today’s event was held at Greater Lawrence Technical School, one of the partners for the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium. GLTS will be running a CNC Machining training cohort funded by EOHED starting in January. GLTS has also been a past recipient of funding through the Skills Capital Grant program, including a $500,000 award earlier this year to expand the school’s advanced manufacturing programs with increased access to both high school students and adults in the community.
Since 2015, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program has invested more than $7.5 million in workforce development. Last year’s award round nearly doubled the yearly investment over previous years and further aligned the program with the efforts of the Workforce Skills Cabinet to regionalize workforce development approaches, and better streamline resource access points for job-seekers and employers. Last year, through this program, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development initiated a statewide process with regional captains, more than 100 partners and 5-year strategic plans.
Manufacturing represents 9% of the Commonwealth’s total economic output, and the Baker-Polito Administration has committed significant energy towards supporting the future of this sector in Massachusetts. In addition to the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program, the administration created a new funding mechanism, the Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Institute (M2I2) to support projects convened under the federal Manufacturing USA effort. With a $100 million commitment to investing in product development and commercialization, Massachusetts research and educational institutes are currently playing leading roles in advanced textiles, photonics, flexible-hybrid electronics, and robotics. The state’s Economic Development Incentive Program also provides critical tax-credit incentives for the relocation or expansion of manufacturers in the Commonwealth.
“Partnership and collaboration is an integral part of what the Baker-Polito Administration continues to do to grow the Commonwealth’s economy, create jobs, and strengthen communities, and the four consortiums receiving grants are bringing together career centers, community organizations, schools, employers, and other entities to meet the needs of manufacturers across the state,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “We are grateful to the regional teams that are using a data-driven approach to create and implement regional blueprints to address workforce demands and close skills gaps.”
“The manufacturing sector accounts for 243,500 jobs in Massachusetts with a median wage of over $50,000 per year,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “We know from our regional planning process that demand for new talent with advanced manufacturing skills is going to accelerate in the coming years in all regions of the Commonwealth. These grants will help fill skills gaps in this critical economic sector and provide economic pathways to high growth middle class jobs in Massachusetts.”
“One of the goals of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet is to provide a platform for educators to work with employers to ensure what students learn aligns with the skills and knowledge needed for jobs that are growing in the Commonwealth. These Advanced Manufacturing Training Grants help fulfill that goal by bringing together regional teams of educators and workforce and economic development professionals to create growth strategies for every region of the Commonwealth, which in turn provides more opportunities for students and adult workers to gain skills, knowledge and credentials in advanced manufacturing,” said Education Secretary James Peyser.
“These programs play a vital role in providing opportunities for workers to receive vital training that give them the skills to compete for the many vacant high-paying jobs in the manufacturing field,” said Senator Eric Lesser, Senate Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus. “Support for these programs has been a major focus of the Legislature, and I’m pleased to see these funds we included in the FY20 state budget put to good use.”
“Time and again we hear from manufacturing employers across the state bemoaning the lack of skilled workers,” said Representative Jeffrey N. Roy, House Chair of the Manufacturing Caucus. “These grants will go a long way to addressing that need and offer exciting opportunities for workers to obtain employment in a steadily growing sector. It’s a win-win for everyone and will continue to make Massachusetts a great state for more manufacturing business.”
“The training that people receive as a result of the workforce development grants provides them opportunities to obtain a liveable wage job, thus allowing time to be with their family and more active in their community,” said John N. Lavoie, Superintendent-Director of the Greater Lawrence Technical School.
“The Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium, in partnership with today’s grant recipients, has trained and helped place over 400 under and unemployed adults into great jobs at over 150 advanced manufacturing companies in the region,” said Brian Norris, Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium Executive Director. “Many of these companies tell us they want to hire more of our graduates. This new round of funding, combined with other funding sources, will help us train 142 new candidates over the next 6 months. Candidates can choose from several unique training programs including: CNC Machining, Electronics, Industrial Welding, and Robotics. Interested candidates should visit their local MassHire Career Center to learn more.”
“We want to thank the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development and the Baker-Polito Administration for their strong support with manufacturing training in Central Massachusetts,” said Kelley French, Deputy Director of the MassHire North Central Workforce Board. “In the first year of our consortium, we have gained over 50 invested partners including educators and employers which funded 183 individuals with training to pursue careers in this high priority industry. “
“On behalf of the MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board, I am extremely humbled to receive this award for a second consecutive year,” said Jim Oliveira, MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board Executive Director. “We are greatly encouraged that Governor Baker and Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development has made a long term commitment to supporting the manufacturing employers in our region. Much was learned in our Year 1 endeavors that informed our Year 2 initiative to develop new in-demand training that will result in meeting immediate labor supply gaps identified by our regional partners and employers. Most importantly these funds gives each of our regional partners the resources to upskill our under represented populations that will provide secure jobs leading to increased economic prosperity.”
“This award from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development will allow the West Region to increase new pipeline program enrollment from broader segments of the population, and create skills enhancement pathway programs for incumbent employees that will respond to the Supply Gaps described in the West Region’s Five Year Manufacturing Plan 2019-2023,” said David M. Cruise, President & CEO of the Hampden County Workforce Board.
In 2015, Governor Baker convened the Workforce Skills Cabinet, comprised of the Executive Offices of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, and Housing and Economic Development to support a comprehensive economic growth agenda to benefit all corners of the Commonwealth. Since 2015, the Workforce Skills Cabinet has invested more than $67 million in training equipment and educational infrastructure through the Skills Capital Grant Program, providing students and adult learners access to state-of-the-art equipment for training.
The Baker-Polito Administration also announced a new apprenticeship tax credit in the 2018 Economic Development Legislation, to encourage the creation of registered apprenticeships with employers in high-growth industries, including advanced manufacturing. This more than $1 billion economic development legislation also included new funding to accelerate small business development, further funding for the Skills Capital Program, $75 million in additional funding for the Skills Capital Grant Program, and new funding for the M2I2 program.
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Fiscal Year 2020 Advanced Manufacturing Training Program Awardees:
Central – Coordinated by MassHire North Central Workforce Board and 24 partner organizations
For the training and placement of 127 individuals in manufacturing the Central region in FY2019.
Northeast – Coordinated by MassHire Metro North Workforce Board and 66 partner organizations
For the training and placement of 142 individuals in manufacturing the Northeast region in FY2020.
Southeast – Coordinated by Greater New Bedford Workforce Board and 58 partner organizations
For the training and placement of 165 individuals in manufacturing the Southeast region in FY2020.
West – Coordinated by MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board and 36 partner organizations
For the training and placement of 111 individuals, and the retention of 131 incumbent employees, in manufacturing the Western region in FY2020.
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