State Awarded $1M For Registered Apprenticeships

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BOSTON — Today, at the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Council meeting, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) awarded $1,052,584 for Massachusetts to support Registered Apprenticeship as a training and employment strategy for emerging industries.

This awarded USDOL grant builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to expand Registered Apprenticeship, a proven workforce strategy that combines technical and on-the-job training for workers, delivers industry-recognized credentials, and increases access to progressive wage increases and good-paying jobs.

"Our administration is committed to expanding Registered Apprenticeship for more industries, supporting business growth, a stronger workforce, and economic competitiveness in regions across Massachusetts," said Governor Maura Healey. "We're grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and USDOL for providing these critical funds to build the workforce we need to deliver on key infrastructure projects, from roads and bridges to clean energy and resiliency in Massachusetts." 

Through the USDOL, State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants support states to engage industry partners, create post-secondary education career pathways and develop the talent pipeline needed to meet the skill needs of their local labor markets. The investments are part of the second round of State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula funding the department has awarded. The funding advances the Biden-Harris administration's goals to expand, modernize and diversify Registered Apprenticeship for all American workers, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities and other underserved communities. 

 

The USDOL award for Massachusetts builds on the Healey-Driscoll Administration's commitment to growing Registered Apprenticeship. In February, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced $5 million in Apprenticeship Expansion and Opportunity Grants, including a combination of state and federal funds, to 25 organizations to train and place apprentices across the state. The FY25 budget continued these investments with nearly $3.5 million to support registered apprenticeship and expand to industries like health care, life sciences, education, and advanced manufacturing while also enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for the construction and building trades. The Healey-Driscoll Administration's $1 billion tax cut package included expanded eligibility for the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit, which offers employers a $4,800 credit for each apprentice hired. 

 

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BCC 40 Under 40 Winners to be Honored

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Wednesday, March 18 at 5 p.m. in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street.
 
Tickets are $40 per person (free for award winners and one guest per winner) and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce and Community Education programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment. 
 
According to a press release:
 
40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. Nominees, who hail from throughout Berkshire County, are eligible for the award through their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, or other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires. 
 
Mill Town Foundation will promote purposeful giving by funding each 40 Under Forty Award winner with $1,000 to re-grant to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization. 
 
The winners, along with their non-profit of choice to receive the $1,000 funding, are: 
  • Lilia Baker, Volunteers in Medicine, donating to ViM Berkshires 
  • Jillian Bamford, On Pointe Barre & Fitness Studio, donating to No Paws Left Behind 
  • Haley Barbieri, Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum / Shakespeare & Company, donating to Lenox Library Association 
  • Patrick Becker, General Dynamics Mission Systems, donating to Craneville Elementary - PTO 
  • Deirdre Bird, Dri Umbrellas, donating to The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire County Women with Cancer at BTCF 
  • Miranda Bona, Fuss & O'Neill, Inc., donating to Jacks Galore 
  • Amanda Carpenter, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, donating to Youth Center Inc. 
  • Lindsay Cornwell, Second Street Second Chances, Inc. / Berkshire County Sheriff's Office, donating to Elizabeth Freeman Center 
  • AJ Cote, Food Pantries of the Capital District, donating to Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds Inc. 
  • Charlotte (Linden) Crane, Berkshire Community College, donating to CBRSD - Wahconah Regional High School CPR program  
  • Jessie Downer, Lamacchia Realty, donating to Strong Little Souls 
  • Michael Duffy, Pittsfield Public Schools – Taconic, donating to Temple Anshe Amunim 
  • Devan Gardner, Greylock Federal Credit Union, donating to Berkshire Lyric 
  • Christa Gariepy, Berkshire Health Systems, donating Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires (the Seed Room) 
  • Alexander Hernandez, Berkshire Medical Center, Somos Berkshires, donating to Katunemo Arts and Healing (Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. as its fiscal sponsor) 
  • Hilary Houldsworth, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., donating to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. 
  • Keytoria Jenkins, United States Postal Service and Keys with Keytoria, donating to Choices Mentoring Initiative 
  • Tom Jorgenson, Berkshire Athenaeum, donating to Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County 
  • Amanda Lardizabal, Berkshire Community College, donating to Berkshire Humane Society 
  • Emma Lenski, Berkshire Pride / Collaborative Endeavors, LLC / Indie Readery & Records, donating to Berkshire Pride 
  • Molly Lovejoy, Railroad Street Youth Project, donating to Railroad Street Youth Project 
  • Kaitlyn Maloy, Berkshire Medical Center, donating to Berkshire Health Systems Nursing Residency 
  • Sheetal Manerkar, Berkshire Medical Center, donating to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. 
  • Zachary Marcotte, Berkshire Money Management, donating to Berkshire Humane Society (Community Cat Program) 
  • Stephanie Maselli, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, donating to Williamstown Youth Center 
  • Charell McFarland, Community First Therapy and Consulting, LLC, donating to R.O.P.E (Rites of Passage & Empowerment Inc) 
  • Molly Merrihew, WAM Theatre, donating to Latinas413 
  • Travis Mille, ConvenientMD Urgent Care, donating to BFAIR 
  • Octavio Miranda Nallin, Amici Berkshires, donating to Litnet 
  • Kaitlyn Moresi, BFAIR, donating to Love of T Foundation 
  • Kaci Nowicki, Greylock Federal Credit Union, donating to Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention 
  • Katherine Oberwager, Baystate Medical Center, donating to Pediatric Developmental Center 
  • Erik Ray, MountainOne Bank, donating to Youth Center Inc. 
  • Nicholas Russo, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, donating to Zion Lutheran Church 
  • Brianna Sabato, Pittsfield Public Schools, donating to Berkshire Running Foundation 
  • Alyssa Sakowski, Berkshire County Head Start, donating to Berkshire County Head Start 
  • Sierra Shehemi, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, donating to MS Support Foundation 
  • Brittany Sumner, Berkshire ABA, donating to Families Like Ours (FLO) 
  • Austin White, County Ambulance, donating to Emergency Medical Service Committee of Berkshire County 
  • Emily Zelenovic, Law Office of Emily Zelenovic, donating to Construct Inc. 
 
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