Holyoke Community College and its partners have been awarded a state grant worth nearly $1.46 million to create a CNA (certified nursing assistant) to LPN (licensed practice nurse) training program to help area hospitals meet their workforce needs.
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced a total of $3.9 million in Sen. Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success grants for six initiatives representing employers and collaborative organizations.
The lion’s share of that money — $1,457,143 — will go to an HCC-led training program to assist 86 unemployed or underemployed individuals transition from jobs as nursing aides to positions as licensed practical nurses.
The grants, funded through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund and distributed by the Commonwealth Corp., aim to increase sustainable wage career pathways for Massachusetts residents facing employment barriers and improve the competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses by enhancing worker skills and productivity.
HCC’s partners in the grant include Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Wing Hospital, MassHire Hampden County, Springfield Works, and the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
The program will first train individuals as nursing aides, then help them obtain jobs at area hospitals while they continue their training in HCC’s LPN program, all the while providing them with wrap-around support services. HCC already has an existing framework for CNA training through its Jump Start program, which is designed for individuals receiving public assistance.
The grants were announced by Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones during a graduation event at the Boston-area African Bridge Network, which received $498,655.
The Springfield-based Entrepreneurial & Business Collaborative also received a grant worth $630,998 to prepare 90 people for jobs in the hospitality industry. The group is partnering with the Northampton Brewery, Granny’s Baking Table, River Valley Market, Tandem Bagel Co. and Puerto Rico Bakery II.
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Throughout November, Freedom Credit Union collected cash donations at all its branches on behalf of the Westover Galaxy Community Council to support military service members and their families at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. A total of $2,032.83 was collected from members, staff and the community, which Freedom matched for a total donation of $4,065.66.
Formed in 1988 as a committee within the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce and incorporated as an independent organization in 1989, the Westover Galaxy Community Council is an organization made up of veterans, local businesspeople and other citizens who support the men, women and mission of Westover ARB. Within Department of Defense guidelines, Westover Galaxy Community Council raises funds to contribute to events and special needs at Westover, the largest air reserve base in the nation and home to more than 5,500 military and civilian workers.
Through Feb. 29, Freedom Credit Union is inviting its members, employees and community to “Paws for a Cause” and make cash donations to benefit the Foundation for TJO Animals in Springfield and Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter in Greenfield.
The Thomas J. O’Connor Adoption Center provides animal shelter and adoption services for Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. The Foundation for TJO Animals was formed to allow the group to better serve the shelter animals in their care through medical treatments and rehabilitation. This veterinary care allows pets to be brought to the adoption floor.
The Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter is a volunteer-led group. Its mission is to protect and improve the lives of stray, lost and unwanted dogs by offering a welcoming facility, providing care and finding good homes.
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The Journalism Education Foundation of New England awards scholarships to high school seniors and college students who are interested in pursuing a career in the newspaper industry. The scholarships, including the MacGregor Fiske Award, are presented by the New England Newspaper and Press Association, and up to 10 students are selected. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be residents of one of the six New England states and should be studying for a career in journalism. High school seniors and college students are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Friday, March 29. For more information, contact students@nenpa.com.
Applications must be a senior in high school or an undergraduate college student, studying journalism or a related field, planning to attend college in fall 2024, have a GPA of 3.0 or above and demonstrate a serious interest in a career in journalism by sending: a cover letter, transcript, resume or biography and letter of recommendation. They must submit a body of published work in a school news publication, general circulation newspaper, or a similar publication or a body of work prepared for a journalism class. A minimum of three works must be submitted. Applicants will receive an email confirming the receipt of their application with a link to a Dropbox folder to upload the required documents.
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State Sen. Adam Gomez, D-Springfield, joins the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development in announcing grant awards of $275,000 for the Hampden County Workforce Board and $128,239 for the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board.
These Apprenticeship Expansion and Opportunity Grants will support health care apprenticeships in Western Massachusetts serving 55 apprentices for the Hampden County Workforce Board and cover operating costs for existing grant and 10 additional health care apprentices for the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board. The Division of Apprentice Standards administers this initiative to expand Registered Apprenticeship to priority industries, to diversify the existing apprenticeship workforce and to enhance apprenticeship programs as part of the Commonwealth’s Apprenticeship Expansion Plan.
For more information, contact Gomez’s office at Adam.Gomez@MASenate.gov.
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The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield has announced its next upcoming events. YPS Third Thursday: Karaoke Catch-Up will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Loophole Brewing, 51-59 Taylor St., Springfield. Registration is encouraged on YPS’ website.
To learn more about Springfield YPS and its programming, visit https://www.springfieldyps.com/.
