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News
Schools improving, Longo informs business leaders
12/16/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, December 16th,
click here
Grant to help downsized Compass, AT&T workers
11/25/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A17 of The Standard-Times, November 25th,
click here
Mayor Kalisz's father dies of kidney failure
10/05/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, October 5th,
click here
First Citizens' CEO to chair United Way
09/26/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page D2 of The Standard-Times, September 26th,
click here
City job Fair boasts career opportunities
09/22/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, September 22nd,
click here
Fishermen to get lesson on Amendment 13
09/22/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, September 22nd,
click here
High school students get a look at working world
08/16/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, August 16th,
click here
Region may lose 500 more jobs to bank mergers
06/30/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on the FRONT PAGE of The Standard-Times, June 30th,
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Job Seeker of the Year
04/09/04
(as submitted to local media)
On the lookout for jobs
04/11/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page D1 of The Standard-Times, April 11th,
click here
Boston firm buys maker of Joseph Abboud suits
04/03/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A1 of The Standard-Times, April 3rd,
click here
GNBWIB to Announce $500,000 in Grants for Youth
03/24/04
WHO: Youth Council of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board
WHAT: Press Conference
WHERE: Greater New Bedford Career Center, 618 Acushnet Avenue
WHEN: Wednesday, MARCH 24, 12:15PM
The Youth Council of the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc., will announce the availability of up to $500,000 in grants to serve youth from the ten communities in the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Area. The purpose of this press conference is to encourage local organizations to apply for available funding and to impact the quantity and quality of applications for funding. In announcing the press conference, Jim Mathes, Youth Council Chairman, said that, “It is the duty of the Youth Council to use this award process to secure the most effective level of services for our youth and we hope our local media partners will assist us in this effort.”
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For more information contact Ethan Kehoe, Director of Development and Planning, EKehoe@gnbwib.org at 508-979-1504, extension 14.
WIBs Receive National Award
03/14/04
Distinguished honoree
Southeastern Massachusetts Manufacturing Consortium
Participating Workforce Investment Boards:
Bristol Workforce Investment Board (lead)
Brockton Area Workforce Investment Board
Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board
During the 2004 NAWB Conference Award Recognition Ceremony, the Southeastern Massachusetts Manufacturing Consortium received National Recognition.
The Southeastern Massachusetts Manufacturing Consortium (SEMMC) was formed in September 2001 to promote quality incumbent worker training and career development among manufacturers in a region of the Commonwealth that faces workforce challenges related to low skill and low educational attainment. SEMMC serves as an effective model of workforce development and incumbent worker training within an industry-sector initiative that involves multiple Workforce Investment Board regions. Employer-driven, the Consortium includes five business-led committees that set the agenda for needs analysis, program design, procurement, curriculum content, and delivery of five training tracks. Program decisions are made by an inclusive Executive Steering Committee made up of senior representatives from all stakeholders groups, including organized labor unions.
SEMMC has trained more than 1,000 workers, reduced turnover by 5% across Partner companies, and secured over $1 milliion in funding through in-kind matching and grant awards. A significant achievement was the Consortium's ability to train workers in skills critical to the increasingly complex and knowledge-driven, high-tech manufacturing workplace. In the short term, this initiative has positioned Consortium members to be better prepared for economic changes and enabled cross-sharing of ideas and solutions while developing integrated employment opportunities, improving higher education curricula, and forging valuable relationships with One-Stop Career Centers.
For more information about the Bristol WIB contact Pat Auerbach BristolREB@aol.com, Executive Director, at 508-675-1165 (press 1). For more information about Brockton Area WIB contact Salvatore Pina SPina@bawib.org, Executive Director, at 508-584-3234. For more information about the Greater New Bedford WIB contact Len Coriaty LCoriaty@gnbwib.org, Executive Director, at 508-979-1504, ext. 12.
For more information about the National Association Workforce Board www.NAWB.org.
The Rising Tide Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 1
03/05/04
To view Volume 1, Issue 1, of the Rising Tide, a publication of the GNBWIB, Inc.click here
Unemployment rate climbs to 8 percent
01/28/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A3 of The Standard-Times, January 28th,
click here
Workforce Solutions Group gets job development grant
01/25/04
To view the entire article as it appeared on page D6 of The Standard-Times, January 25th,
click here
Career Centers expand their hours
07/14/03
Greater New Bedford and Wareham Career Centers expand their hours.
In a bid to help find jobs for the unemployed, Govenor Mitt Romney has announced expanded hours of operation at the commonwealth's 33 One-Stop Career Centers, including the Greater New Bedford and Wareham Career Centers.
"Ultimately, the only way for us to get the commonwealth back on track is to find a job for every citizen who wants one," Govenor Romney said. "Extending the hours of operation for all of the One-Stops will help us achieve that goal -- one person and one job at a time."
The 33 full-service Career Centers are open two nights a week instead of closing at 5 p.m. each evening. The Greater New Bedford (618 Acushnet Avenue) and Wareham (recently relocated to the Multi-Service Center, 48 Marion Road - Route 6, next to the Wareham Town Hall) Career Centers will be open until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
At the centers, job seekers can access career planning and resume development services, referrals to job training opportunities, job search workshops, job postings on the Internet, labor market information and use of personal computers.
The Greater New Bedford and Wareham Career Centers' hours are: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
For more information about the GNB Career Center contact Arlene Cloutier, Director at 508-990-4000. For more information about the Wareham Career Center contact Paul Champagne, Acting Manager at 508-295-6170.
For more information on One-Stop Career Centers visit www.DETMA.org.
Leonard Coriaty Provides Written Testimony to the Office of Commerce and Labor
February 12, 2003
Mr. Robert Pozen
Chief of Commerce and Labor
State House
Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Mr. Pozen:
Thank you for the invitation to present my views on the workforce priorities for our region in the FY ’04 budget.
During the past two years, the economy in the Greater New Bedford region has experienced increased plant closings and substantial lay-offs. Customer traffic in our career centers in New Bedford and Wareham has increased 31%. Meanwhile, we’ve experienced severe cuts in State and Federal funding. Last year, our region suffered a 13% cut in available funds, totaling $720,000. Recent cuts by Congress and the Bush Administration will mean an additional 15% cut in funding under the Workforce Investment Act beginning July 1, 2003. The state fiscal crisis has already made a bad situation worse with the recent mid-year cuts, and the multi-billion dollar deficit facing the State in Fiscal Year ’04 will certainly exacerbate the problem still further.
In view of the current fiscal crisis, state leaders need to find creative ways to maintain programs that help get people back to work and help the state generate new revenue through additional payroll taxes. We need to look at alternative funding sources that will not require new funding or an added burden on taxpayers - such as the one time Federal allocation to Massachusetts under the Reed Act, $193 million dollars aimed at stimulating the economy. In a report released January 31st, twenty-two other states are supporting one-stop career centers through the use of Reed Act funds. Now is not the time to retreat from investing in our workforce.
Our workforce investment board seeks to ensure that businesses in our region thrive, that all community members move toward earning a family-sustaining wage, and that resources are available for the life-long education and training required of the youth and adults that we serve. The Romney-Healey Administration’s action to continue funding several key initiatives is imperative! Below are our funding priorities for Fiscal Year 2004.
7003-0702 For one time grants for the State WIB and Local WIBs $1,810,000
REQUESTED ACTION: Revisit the “one-time grant” language in this line item and restore funding and earmark in the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD) line item. Previously this was funded at $1,520,000 in line item 7003-1000.
7003-0803 One-Stop Career Centers $3,750,000
7027-0019 School to Work Connecting Activities $4,129,687
7035-0002 Adult Basic Education $28,107,237
7003-0701 Workforce Training Fund $18,000,000
4401-1000 Department of Transitional Assistance $30,000,000
7003-0601 Youth At-Risk Summer Jobs $1,000,000
7003-0700 MA Regional Employment Board Association Funding,
commonly known as the MA Workforce Board Association $150,000
Additional outside sections include:
Use of Reed Act Funds - Federal Distribution for State Unemployment Trust Fund
7002-6644 With reduced federal and state employment and training budgets, we need to use a portion of the $193 million received by the state as part of the President’s Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act to be reinvested back into the workforce as is done in twenty-two other states, to help people get back to work and to help the state generate new revenue through additional payroll taxes.
Extended Care Career Ladder Initiative (ECCLI)
From the Health Care Quality Improvement Trust Fund $4,100,000
In closing, I am well aware of the fiscal challenges facing the Commonwealth. We have already endured significant cuts in funding and services, and the need for services at our career centers and other local providers continues to grow. I am confident the new administration will hold the line on the core services that the workforce system provides to help people achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Thank you for the opportunity to present my views as we face the economic and workforce challenges ahead.
Sincerely,
Leonard Coriaty
Executive Director
cc: Ms. Jane Edmonds, Director
DOL and Workforce Development
One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Ms. Janice Tatarka, Chief of Staff
DOL and Workforce Development
One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Bonnie Coughlin Testifies at the 2/12/03 Commerce and Labor hearing
Copy of Testimony
Bonnie Coughlin, Chair Bristol WIB
Chair, Massachusetts Workforce Board Association
Hearing before the Office of Commerce and Labor
February 12, 2003
Gardner Auditorium
State House
First, let me thank Bob Pozen and his team, Jane Edmonds, Barbara Berke, Beth Lindstrom and the agencies they represent for holding this very important hearing to listen to and learn from the many of us who are struggling each and every day to support employers and jobseekers during these challenging economic times. My comments are being made within the context of the state fiscal crisis with a projected multi-billion dollar deficit next fiscal year-and understanding that we have problems at the federal level as well. President Bush’s recent FY 04 budget proposal continues the reductions to the yet enacted federal fiscal 03 budgets with cuts to the Workforce Investment Act of $678 million, which will represent, at minimum, a 10-15% cut here in Massachusetts beginning July first.
I am speaking here today as a Chair of an Association of business-led workforce boards. Those of you new to your current positions may have just recently learned about workforce boards-what we do and who we are. A number of WIBs have or will speak today highlighting their regional priorities-and my goal is not to duplicate or be repetitive of what they have to say, but rather to offer a state-wide perspective of our members.
There are more than 500 business leaders, community college presidents, school superintendents, educators, labor and community based leaders who are members of our regional boards. In addition each workforce board has a youth council with about another 400 members including district attorney’s and police departments, youth providers, high school principals and parents. We work in partnership with each of our Mayors. We are responsible for leading and implementing the regional workforce system-in partnership with economic development agencies. This includes the network of 34 one-stop career centers as well as the many employer, school and community based training initiatives. Regional workforce boards know this conversation today is vitally important. We all need to better manage the use of scarce resources on behalf of employers and jobseekers. WIBs are where the rubber meets the road and we need a state government that understands the needs of the private sector!
A year ago the most pressing issues were the labor and skills shortage. While in some industries this is still the case-we are at a critical crossroads in our economy. As you know all too well, our economy has been slowing for some time-some might argue that it has been teetering dangerously on the brink of recession.
The unemployment rate is holding at the unacceptable rate of 5.2 percent for the past several months’ -its highest level since October of 1995. As workforce boards on the front lines across Massachusetts know-the surge in mass layoffs is taxing the current system. Our one-stop career centers are seeing more people than ever before. This year we have seen an increase of 32% [over the same period last year - FY 01-FY02] with more than 168,319 people coming through the doors of our centers.
What should we be doing? Let me offer a few suggestions.
First, workforce development in Massachusetts MUST change the way it does business! Governor Romney is looking at how best to organize the workforce system. He remarked recently in western Massachusetts that “ we had 12 workforce training agencies that weren’t getting along-so what did we do? -we went out and created a thirteenth!” We need a system that responds to the needs of workers and employers - in ways it has never done before. We need a consensus on the direction of state workforce policy that does not exist today. In fact, a MassINC report in March of 2000 found that “Massachusetts has no organized workforce development system to lift the skills of low skilled workers but is rather a hodge-podge of efforts” which as the Governor noted is still as true today.
How do we achieve that consensus?
The Governor and his administration-together with local business and workforce leaders-must reexamine the workforce development system, its structure, funding, delivery and links to economic development in a way that builds upon the work of the regional workforce boards in creating a more effective and unified workforce system.
Let me give you an example of what we ‘ve been doing in this area. In southeastern Massachusetts-comprised of five workforce areas-we developed both a regional analysis and strategy to respond to the needs of the region and identify the growing industries and wealth creators as part of a community audit process. We think that this type of effort should be replicated in each Regional Competitiveness Council.
We need a State board-Chaired by the Governor-that actually sets policy and both supports and allows the regions to carry out that policy.
We must let those who understand the local labor market get the job done with state support - not state control. We need to return to the “Centrally-guided, but locally driven” mantra of a few years ago. And here are a few more specifics:
- Expand industry driven training. Let industry sectors-clusters as Michael Porter would call them-working with the Governor’s Regional Competitiveness Councils, identify their employee training needs to improve the skills of people now working-and improve the competitiveness of these companies. In my own region-Quaker Fabrics-along with nine other manufacturers in southeastern Massachusetts-are training production workers as a result of the Building Essential Skills through Training (BEST) initiative. This is happening in the biotech industry and health care-these are the efforts that need our support. Let me suggest that you should look to build upon and expand the BEST initiative now. It was done with no direct state budget funding and could be replicated immediately.
- End the waiting lists for adult basic education and address the needs of the 1.1 million workers identified by MassINC as not having the skills needed for the new economy. We cannot be cutting funding for literacy and adult education if we want our workers to have a future. Let me also suggest that the ABE resources need to be connected and an integral part of the workforce system-not simply education for the sake of education. [Line Item 7035-0002]
- Respond to the challenges facing youth-particularly older youth and create the Governor’s Youth Employment Initiative-bringing together business, labor, political and community leaders to address the growing problems faced by youth-including but not limited to MCAS. Unemployment among 16 to 24 year olds is at its highest level in decades. Young adults job loss in the past year accounted for 53% of the total job losses among all U.S. adults, although these young adults only represented 15% of all workers and their unemployment rate was six times higher than that of the nation’s older adults. The recent BEST effort to respond to the needs of older youth-those that are disproportionately impacted by the current economic downturn-should be commended and expanded. Again this as an effort supported with federal funds. [Line Items 7027-0019 & 7003-0700]
- Change the operation of the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund to respond to regional economic and workforce challenges-let the local business leaders invest their funds into regional priorities! After all it is employers who are paying into the fund! [Line Item 7003-0701]
- Get creative in using resources such as the federal Reed Act funds to respond to the current crisis in the workforce. Massachusetts is sitting on nearly $190 million, which came to the State as part of the President’s Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, aimed to stimulate the economy. Now more than ever we need a portion of these resources to be invested back into the workforce with reduced federal and state employment and training budgets. According to a report released last week, 22 other states are supporting one-stop career centers through Reed Act funds. The Governor’s recent 9c reduction in DTA employment and training programs will have a severe impact upon low-skilled recipients of public assistance, making it harder for them to enter training programs, have the necessary support services and find work. Let me suggest that funds should be freed up from the Reed Act to support these individuals at one-stop career centers. In addition as we move forward over the next two years-earmarking Reed Act Funds for one-stop career centers and using WIA dollars for training would be effective strategies to explore. [Line Items 7002-6644, 7003-0803 & 4401-1000]
- Link the use of MCAS remediation funding with school-to-career connecting activities. As we all know the class of 2003 looms large on the horizon. We need to continue the investments on our young people who are in school-to insure that they make the right choices as future members of the workforce. [Line Items 7027-0019 & 7061-9404]
Finally, we are all very well aware of the financial challenges facing the Commonwealth- we are proposing a more efficient and effective use of the resources we already have! We need continued support for the infrastructure to carry out these activities-specifically continued funding to support private sector led workforce boards and our Association in their role as leader, broker, intermediary the provider of technical assistance to the system. [Line Items 7003-0702 & 7003-0700]
Yes, we need to reexamine the structure and resources allocated at all levels-federal, state and local -but now is the time to continue investments in a system that will provide a return on that investment for years to come! We ask Governor Romney and the administration to join with us in pressing for a new federal allocation formula, which treats Massachusetts fairly.
We pledge to work in partnership Governor Romney, and the office of Commerce and Labor in doing what the voters-and our members want-making state government work- by investing in the skills of our people so that businesses can succeed and we can grow our way out of the current economic stagnation.
As chair of the Bristol Workforce Investment Board, and on behalf of all the workforce boards in Massachusetts, thank you for the opportunity to present our thoughts on the challenges we face in delivering to the employers and the families of Massachusetts, each and every day.
New law gives students more opportunities
01/31/03
To view the entire article as it appeared on page A4 of The Standard-Times, January 31st,
click here
Business Group Pushes Job Training Programs
01/29/03
NEW BEDFORD - Key business and civic leaders in the region are urging legislators to protect federal and state programs aimed at retraining the unemployed and helping them find jobs. Members of the business-led Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board outlined their budget priorities to members of the area legislative delegation at a breakfast meeting at the Wamsutta Club on January 24.
Appointed by New Bedford Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz, Jr., the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) sets policy for workforce programs throughout the region that stretches from Dartmouth to Wareham. The 53-member group, which includes representatives from business, labor, education, economic development, and a host of community groups and service providers, is chaired by Anthony R. Sapienza, Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at Riverside Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Mr. Sapienza told legislators that, despite the current fiscal crisis, state leaders need to find ways to maintain programs that help get people back to work and help the state generate new revenue through additional payroll taxes. He outlined a series of budget priorities, including continued funding for One-Stop Career Centers, programs that link school to work, adult basic education, and Workforce Training grants. He said the state could use a one-time source of money, its $192 million federal Reed Act allocation, to help pay for One-Stop Career Centers during the coming year.
Mr. Sapienza thanked Rep. Robert M. Koczera (D-New Bedford) for sponsoring legislation, signed into law by Governor Jane Swift on her last day in office, which will provide insurance coverage to student interns when on employer’s premises. “This will open doors to new internship opportunities across the State that have been closed to this point,” he said.
Mr. Sapienza said workforce development investments are designed to help people achieve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on State aid. He said the WIB seeks to ensure that businesses in the region thrive, that all community members move toward earning a family-sustaining wage, and that resources are available for the life-long education and training for youth and adults.
Mayor Kalisz, Rep. Koczera, Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral (D-New Bedford) Rep. John Quinn (D-Dartmouth), and Rep. Mark Howland (D-Freetown) all attended the program. Also attending were representatives from the offices of State Senator Mark C.W. Montigny (D-New Bedford), State Senator Joan Menard (D-Fall River), and U.S. Congressman James McGovern (D-Worcester).
The legislators were introduced by Joel E. Burns, Director of Human Resources at The Standard-Times. Mr. Burns serves as Vice-Chairman of the WIB and Chairman of its Legislative Affairs Committee.
Legislators reviewed a “white paper” called “Improving the MA Workforce Development System” which highlights critical problems such as skills shortages, skills gaps, and youth unemployment. That paper, developed by the WIB and the Massachusetts Workforce Board Association, was recently delivered to the Romney-Healey Administration.
The WIB encouraged legislators and their staffs to attend the Career Center Expo at the State House on February 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Expo highlights the work done at the 37 One-Stop Career Centers throughout Massachusetts.
For more information, contact Leonard W. Coriaty, the WIB’s Executive Director, at (508) 979-1504.
© 2001 Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
227 Union Street, Suite 206, New Bedford, MA 02740-5946
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