SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce successfully promotes workforce development in the city of Boston due to a community of non-profit agencies, employers, philanthropic organizations and participants. It's a priority for us to keep you informed on the work of the initiative so that together we can provide creative leadership for and solutions to our region's workforce challenges. |
City of Boston and Private Industry Council to Hold Hearing on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Monday, March 23rd
On Monday, March 23rd, the Mayor's Office of Jobs and Community Services and the Boston Private Industry Council (Boston's Workforce Investment Board) will hold a hearing on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), the economic stimulus bill passed by Congress on February 17th. They are interested in hearing from residents, service providers, employers and other interested parties regarding implementation of the ARRA workforce development funding. The hearing will be held at the Copley Library's Rabb Lecture Hall, 700 Boylston Street, Boston.
A draft document outlining the city's proposed principles and funding priorities will be available for review at www.BostonJCS.org and www.bostonpic.org.
They also welcome written testimony, which will be accepted through the close of business on Monday, March 30, 2009. You may send written testimony via email to: cindy.chow.jcs@cityofboston.gov or comment@bostonpic.org; or by U.S. Mail to Cindy Chow, JCS/EDIC, 43 Hawkins Street, Boston, MA 02114.
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SkillWorks to Hold Information Session on ARRA week of April 13
Together with the Commonwealth Workforce Coalition, SkillWorks will hold an information session on the week of April 13 to inform organizations about the workforce provisions of the ARRA as well as discuss the entry level jobs that are likely to be created by federal investments.
SkillWorks will provide organizations the opportunity to network and plan for competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Labor for workforce development in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, SkillWorks will provide information about small grants available for organizations applying for these funds.
Please stay tuned for a follow-up email with the date and time of this session and for more information about SkillWorks planning grants. |
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SkillWorks Recommends Workforce Development Provisions for Commonwealth of Massachusetts
SkillWorks recently sent a letter to Governor Deval Patrick urging that he implement some of the recommendations from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Workforce Task Force subgroup regarding the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
Among the recommendations that SkillWorks supports are:
- All job openings generated by the federal stimulus be posted on the web sites of the One Stop WIA Career Centers, so that workers will be aware of them. Businesses receiving contracts to perform public works should hire a significant percentage of employees through the local One Stop Career Centers and should be required to report who they have hired to track the impact of this massive stimulus effort.
- Training for jobs created for infrastructure improvements and green technologies should target both unemployed or underemployed skilled trades workers and workers new to the energy efficiency field. Partnerships to provide training should have at least two or more employers to ensure hiring, appropriate curriculum, and on-the-job training opportunities and should leverage our state's vocational technical schools, community colleges and community-based organizations.
- 1 to 2 % of the ARRA funding designated for infrastructure and energy efficiency improvements be directed toward sustaining and creating job training programs. For example, the state should support:
- The creation of a network of regional Apprentice Preparedness Programs (APPs) in partnership with the building trades training directors to ensure that curricula reflect the entry requirements for the apprenticeship program and that there are actual opportunities upon completion of the Pre-Apprenticeship program.
- Basic Skills, GED, ESOL, and related programs so that our most vulnerable populations receive the training they need to be included in the coming economic recovery
SkillWorks looks forward to working with Governor Patrick and the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to make sure that Boston and Massachusetts are in the strongest position for the coming economic recovery.
Do you support these recommendations? Please send a letter to Governor Patrick at
Massachusetts State House
Office of the Governor
Room 360
Boston, MA 02133 |
Need Information on ARRA? Try These Links
There is a lot of information out there on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If you are looking for information on what's in the legislation and what is available for workforce investment for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, try visiting these Web sites:
- Recovery.gov - The White House Web site explaining the stimulus package
- Massachusetts Recovery and Reinvestment Plan - The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Web site detailing Governor Patrick's plan for ARRA
- The Workforce Alliance - a national coalition advocating for public policies that invest in the skills of America's workers. TWA has put together some excellent analysis and information about workforce provisions in the ARRA nationally.
- The Workforce Solutions Group - a partnership funded by SkillWorks. WSG has Massachusetts-specific ARRA information on its website.
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Director's Remarks
As many of you no doubt know, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17. This bill contains $4 billion in new workforce investments, plus hundreds of billions more for infrastructure and renewable energy/ energy efficiency programs, some of which can also be directed toward job training and education. This is the largest new investment in workforce development we have seen in many years, and we are all trying to understand how it affects our programs and how we can do more for our clients.
I hope you find this installment of the SkillWorks newsletter helpful as you plan.
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SkillWorks Funders
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- The Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund and the Frank W. and Carl S. Adams Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
- Boston 2004
- The Boston Foundation
- The City of Boston's Neighborhood Jobs Trust
- The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- The Hyams Foundation
- The Clowes Fund, Inc
- The Jessie B. Cox Charitable Trust
- The John Merck Fund
- Microsoft Corporation
- The Paul and Phyllis Fireman Foundation
- The National Fund for Workforce Solutions
- The Nellie Mae Education Foundation
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- The Rockefeller Foundation
- State Street Foundation
- The William Randolph Hearst Foundation
- United Way of Massachusetts
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SkillWorks Partnerships
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Boston Health Care and Research Training Institute
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Community Health Worker Initiative of Boston - Emergency Medical Careers Partnership
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Hotel Training Center
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Workforce Solutions Group - Year Up Financial Services Partnership
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