Action Alert - MA Jobs and Economic Development Bill

Public Policy Action Alert: MA Jobs and Economic Development Bill

Dear Friends and Partners of SkillWorks,

On June 3, 2014, Speaker Robert DeLeo and Chairman Joseph Wagner of the House Economic Development Committee unveiled a new Economic Development bill: An Act Promoting Economic Growth across the Commonwealth. The bill includes:

$15 Million for Middle Skills Job Training, targeting the IT and Advanced Manufacturing sectors
$1.5 million in matching funds for MassCAN to establish computer science education in public
$750,000 for an Early College High School grant program
Several regional economic development initiatives to stimulate job growth and retention

To ensure that job training partnerships are available for every sector in need of skilled workers, please ask your state Representatives to call Speaker DeLeo and Chairman Brian Dempsey of the Ways and Means Committee to include funds for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) in the Economic Development Bill.

This will enable low skill workers in financial services, early childhood education, healthcare, hospitality, and other sectors to have access to middle skill training as well.

Please also call the following representatives directly:

Speaker Robert DeLeo 617-722-2500

Chairman Brian Dempsey 617-722-2990

To find your state representative visit: www.malegislature.gov/People

Background

Good jobs and higher wages contribute to vibrant local economies. Yet currently, only half of adults in Massachusetts have an associate degree or higher. By the year 2020, 70 percent of the jobs in our state will require a career certificate or college degree.[1] How do we close this skills gap? By building training pipelines to link workers with the skills needed to fill these good jobs.

The state's best vehicle to help industries with critical talent needs is the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF). It is also the state's only vehicle to train unemployed people for new jobs, and it has no permanent funding mechanism. Since its creation in 2006, the WCTF has developed 46 regional training partnerships across the state which have trained over 6,700 individuals with a skill credential and positive employment outcome.

While the WCTF has no permanent funding source, it was recapitalized with $5 million in the 2012 Jobs and Economic Development Bill. Fifteen new job training partnerships have been established involving 105 businesses, 60 education and training organizations, and 36 labor organizations. Collectively, they plan to train at least 772 unemployed individuals.

As a result of these investments, businesses were able to operate in new markets, increase productivity and profitability, develop career and education pathways and train individuals for occupations with critical shortages. Without a permanent funding stream or sizable capitalization in the 2014 Jobs and Economic Development Bill, this training will remain inconsistent and unable to meet our state's economic demands. We recommend a recapitalization of $10 million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund in the 2014 Jobs and Economic Development bill.

[1]Complete College America, Massachusetts State Profile 2011.

   420 Boylston Street, 4th Floor
   Boston, MA 02116

   www.skill-works.org | @skillworks_MA

STAY CONNECTED