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Forty nine partners in education, workforce development, and industry came together to develop this multi-faceted project around Science-Based-Manufacturing and STEM-related jobs in aerospace, biotechnology, and renewable energy. In 2008, more than 13% of the region’s workers are currently employed in high-wage manufacturing jobs. This has created a population vulnerable to layoffs, due to changes in production technology. More than 60% of Massachusetts’ next generation manufacturing jobs will require at least an associates degree, or long-term, on-the-job training. The region is also facing high unemployment among young people, with 13.8% of youth in the workforce aged 16 to 24 out of work during 2006. Hampshire County also faces higher-than-average unemployment among veterans with 7.9% of these individuals out of work during some portion of 2006.
Central MA Regional Employment Board took the lead role in partnership with Mass MEP, North Central MA Workforce Investment Board, and Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board for this exciting regional effort that kicked off in January 20009. The program focuses on expanded training and coordination of current STEM-related activities and resources at One-Stop Career Centers. Through the Centers, participants will have access to STEM coaches and mentors who will link program participants to employers, and offer advice and guidance on entering STEM fields. “Career blueprints” will outline career paths for individual participants. An online Virtual Center for Excellence will also provide participants with to access learning via courses delivered online, a mentor’s online community center, and an online career coach’s center. Goals include increasing enrollments of high school students that will receive a STEM Pathways Experience; and grant participants will receive remedial training, enroll in Technical High School, pre-apprenticeship programs, Certificate programs, Associates Degrees and Bachelors Degrees. This program is funded in part by a three year US Department of Labor grant for $2,000,000. It is an equal opportunity program.
Services available to those living or working in the following cities and towns:
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Franklin/Hampshire
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North Central Mass
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Central Mass
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Amherst
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Ashburnham
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Auburn
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Ashfield
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Ashby
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Blackstone
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Athol
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Ayer
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Boylston
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Belchertown
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Barre
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Brookfield
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Bernardston
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Berlin
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Charlton
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Buckland
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Bolton
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Douglas
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Charlemont
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Clinton
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Dudley
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Chesterfield
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Fitchburg
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East Brookfield
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Colrain
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Gardner
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Grafton
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Conway
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Groton
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Hardwick
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Cummington
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Harvard
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Holden
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Deerfield
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Hubbardston
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Hopedale
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Easthampton
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Lancaster
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Leicester
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Erving
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Leominster
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Mendon
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Gill
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Lunenburg
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Milford
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Goshen
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Pepperell
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Millbury
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Granby
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Princeton
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Millville
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Greenfield
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Shirley
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New Braintree
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Hadley
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Sterling
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North Brookfield
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Hatfield
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Templeton
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Northborough
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Hawley
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Townsend
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Northbridge
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Heath
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Westminster
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Oakham
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Huntington
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Winchendon
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Oxford
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Leverett
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Paxton
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Leyden
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Rutland
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Middlefield
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Shrewsbury
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Monroe
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Southbridge
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Montague
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Spencer
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New Salem
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Sturbridge
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Northampton
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Sutton
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Northfield
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Upton
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Orange
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Uxbridge
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Pelham
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Warren
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Petersham
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