The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today they are awarding $1.5 million in grants for new community college workforce training programs for adults looking to enter or re-enter the workforce. Included in that effort are a manufacturing training program at Middlesex Community College and English language training for nursing and pharmaceutical programs at Northern Essex Community College.
The grants, which are part of the Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) program, are being issued to 13 community colleges across Massachusetts to prepare residents for careers in fields such as education, health care, addiction recovery, cyber security, and manufacturing. They are estimated to provide free career training to more than 400 adult learners at community colleges across Massachusetts, with all programs targeting residents who are unemployed or underemployed.
“The success of MassReconnect has demonstrated that Massachusetts residents are eager to further their careers, and these training programs are another way to meet that need,” said Governor Maura Healey. “TRAIN grants allow community colleges to be responsive to regional workforce needs and quickly prepare residents to fill critical roles in our cities and towns.”
“These grants will not only offer new career opportunities to those seeking them, but they will bring lasting benefits to our communities by increasing the number of trained professionals in our schools, hospitals and beyond,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Massachusetts residents win across the board when employers in key industries can look into their communities and find the talent they need to carry out their missions.”
TRAIN launched in 2016 serving four community colleges, and it has grown to offer grant opportunities to all 15 community colleges in Massachusetts.
The training programs that will be created with TRAIN grants at Middlesex C.C. and Northern Esses C.C. are as follows (Those interested in enrolling should contact the community college at which their program of interest is offered):
Middlesex Community College plans to launch an Advanced Manufacturing Training Program consisting of academic coursework, career readiness and hands-on manufacturing technology skills development. The program will consist of academic coursework and hands-on manufacturing technology skill development for a total of 160 hours, over approximately 6 weeks per cohort. Academic and workplace readiness courses (total of 70 hours) will include mathematics, manufacturing best practices, career readiness and OSHA/Safety standards.
Northern Essex Community College will train approximately 100 unemployed and/or underemployed adult learners with limited English language skills, many of whom will be recent immigrants. The college will offer two cohorts of Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) training (maximum 20 students per cohort) and three cohorts of Pharmacy Technician training (maximum 20 students per cohort). In addition, there will be an ESOL companion class for any CNA student in need of ESOL support.
