Baker Announces $2.5 Million for Advanced Manufacturing Training, Eyed to Boost Worcester Employment

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Governor Charlie Baker

Governor Charlie Baker announced a $2.5 million for advanced manufacturing training at four regional workforce development consortiums.

The consortiums will train over 700 unemployed and under-employed residents in advanced manufacturing.

Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Quinsigamond Community College President Luis G. Pedraja, regional workforce leaders, and state and local officials joined in on the announcement.

Polito joined Quinsigamond Community College President Luis G. Pedraja, regional workforce leaders and state and local officials to announce $2.5 million to four regional consortiums, 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.

“QCC is aligned with employers and stands ready to train the next generation of advanced manufacturers to continue to assist our region to grow and prosper,” said QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja.

“Advanced Manufacturing continues to be a key industry here in Massachusetts, and we are committed to supporting an industry that creates high-paying, full-time positions for residents with different skill levels. This program, which aligns with our relaunch of MassHire, builds on our administration’s investments in classroom infrastructure, industry innovation and regional coordination to connect residents to jobs, and address employer needs for skilled workers. Congratulations to these four regional consortiums for creating strategic, thoughtful planning efforts that will move our Commonwealth forward,” said Baker.

Advanced Manufacturing Training Program

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.

Since 2015, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program has invested more than $5 million in workforce development, and this year’s award round nearly doubled the yearly investment over previous years.

In April 2017, the Workforce Skills Cabinet launched regional teams to gather and analyze data to better understand the needs of local employers, existing skills gap in the talent pipeline, and determine high-growth industries with long-term hiring needs.

Manufacturing in MA

Manufacturing represents 10% 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.

“When we look at the future of work in Massachusetts the data shows that advanced manufacturing jobs are going to be in high demand and that we need to better adapt our employment strategies to meet that demand. These grants, and the coordinated efforts between our state, federal, non-profit, and business communities, will go a long way towards helping us ensure that this critical piece of our economy continues to thrive in the Commonwealth,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta.