Programs

The COVID-19 pandemic has left thousands of Burlington and Bedford residents unemployed and without the certainty of returning to work. Simultaneously, yet conversely, the pandemic has generated new demands in certain industries, such as healthcare and life sciences, leaving employers in need of workers to provide critical services to get our communities through the recovery and beyond. To address these employment impacts, the towns of Burlington and Bedford have partnered with MassHire Metro North to offer a job training program that would offer subsidized education and training for low to moderate income residents who want to take existing courses in the healthcare and life sciences. This job-training program will invest in Burlington and Bedford residents, expand our regional workforce, and strengthen the state’s healthcare and life science cluster. Interested? Email Partner-Referrals@mhmncc.com

Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (NAMC)

Manufacturing has a legacy in the Northeast of Massachusetts and we seek to advocate for a thriving advanced manufacturing industry. Northeast manufacturers are world-class companies that are an essential part of the state’s innovation economy.

The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board is one of four workforce boards participating in the Northeast Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (NAMC).  NAMC is an initiative of Metro North, Greater Lowell, Merrimack Valley, and North Shore workforce boards. NAMC is a partnership among industry, academia, and workforce development experts to promote sustained support for manufacturing in the Northeast of Massachusetts.  This coalition of private and public entities leverages funding and develops programming to meet our goals, including outreach to youth and adults and ongoing job training for manufacturing careers.

Center for Manufacturing Technology – WIOA Youth Grant Program

The Center for Manufacturing Technology is offering free training to begin your career in advanced manufacturing. This is an exciting opportunity as the advanced manufacturing sector is experiencing a critical shortage in qualified candidates and Center for Manufacturing Technology has been successful in helping to fill the void for over 10 years.

In program participants must be 18 – 24, not be attending school, and must be eligible to work in the US. Priority will be given to participants living in the Metro North Region including the cities of Cambridge, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, Medford, Malden, Everett and Somerville. Interested participants living outside the Metro North area are also strongly encourage to apply.

Training slots available in popular topics in advanced manufacturing at our facility include:

• Math refresher
• Machining
• Print Reading
• Machine Shop Safety
• Basics of CNC operations
• Inspection
• Soft Skills and Job Readiness
• Preparation for a NIMS Credential

This training is free of charge, to eligible individuals. The eligibility process applies to all applicants under this grant funding.

Please reach out to find out more about this opportunity to admissions@customgroupusa.com or click on the link below to fill out an online form.

WIOA REQUEST INFORMATION – Center For Manufacturing Technology (customtrainingcenter.com)

Last October, the MassHire Metro North Workforce Board was the recipient of a $500,000 grant from Wal-Mart. Through this generous award, we will be launching an incumbent worker training program*. An expansion of last year’s Retail Management Academy, this award allows us to expand on the success of the co-taught model by bringing it on-site to an employer’s location, much like the iBest @ Work Initiative, and will assist participants with English language or Adult Basic Education needs. The project will take place over the next two years with a focus on building employer partner support, implementing a pilot program, and creating a plan for scalability and sustainability. The Wal-Mart grant supports our mission to provide employers with the workforce they need to effectively compete in the changing world economy and enable area residents to gain the skills needed to maximize their economic self-sufficiency.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iBEST @ Work incumbent worker training has been postponed until January.

For more information, contact retail@MassHireMetroNorth.org.

On January 31st, The Workforce Board submitted a $450,000 joint application with the City of Boston’s Office of Workforce Development for the FY21 Community Mitigation Fund Grant, the commission is scheduled to vote in July. This investment to the Greater Boston region would help local residents access high quality hospitality and gaming careers. The FY21 project would continue to include culinary arts training and a regional network of Career Advisors, that are engaging local residents and providing information and referrals related to Encore Boston Harbor employment opportunities and opportunities at other impacted employers. In addition, the upcoming project would include additional training in the hospitality industry as well as an ESOL training program.

For information on Gaming and Hospitality Training in the Greater Boston area, please visit our partner websites:

• Culinary Arts training through the New England Center for Arts and Technology (NECAT)
• Hospitality Training through BEST Corp
• Hospitality Training through International Institute of New England
• Casino Dealer Training at the Greater Boston Gaming And Career Institute at Cambridge College

For more information, please contact gaming@MassHireMetroNorth.org.

Housed at The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board, the Metro North STEM Network (MNSN) develops STEM promotion strategies that closely align with the needs of industry, community, and K-12 and higher education in the regions. MNSN convenes meetings of educators, industry and community partners to further state and regional STEM goals. The Network also plays an integral role in developing, organizing, and amplifying, Massachusetts’ annual STEM Week in October.

The MassHire Metro North Workforce Board places a high priority on helping to ensure that local youth are well prepared with the skills, knowledge and experience to enter into and thrive in the local workforce.  The Board’s youth focused efforts currently include:

Metro North Youth Committee: 

The Metro North Youth Committee is tasked with the oversight and monitoring of the Board’s current youth programming.  Comprised of Board Members and local employers, the committee also serves as a catalyst to convene public and private leaders from the region to inform local youth workforce policy and to establish priorities for current and future youth programming.

Learn about the youth programs we support including School to Career Connecting Activties, YouthWorks, and WIOA Youth by clicking on the link below.