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Labor & Workforce Highlights in HWM budget


YouthWorks: Job Program for At-Risk Youth (7002-0012). The House budget provides $31 Million to YouthWorks. This program is administered by the Department of Career Services and provides subsidized job opportunities for low-income and at-risk youth aged 14-25 in over 40 cities across the Commonwealth. Recently, the program has expanded to include young workers aged 21 to 25 and to provide job opportunities outside of just the summer months. Despite the pandemic, YouthWorks was able to provide paid opportunities for over 5,000 young people in the Commonwealth in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. $16 million increase over the H1 budget proposal. MassHire Career Centers (7003-0803). The House budget provides $15 Million for MassHire Career Centers and ensures adequate resources to assist unemployed workers across the state. These centers serve communities across the Commonwealth, and are always looking for new ways to engage with a greater number of employers and job-seekers. They work to prepare unemployed workers who are looking to re-enter the job market through counseling, training, and referrals for reskilling opportunities. MassHire’s career center system continues to be a critical part of the labor-force recovery for Massachusetts. $9 million increase over the H1 Budget proposal. Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (1595-1075). The House budget provides $17 Million for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund. This program funds occupational training opportunities for workers with limited or no connection to the labor force, with a focus on industries where there is a high demand for new workers. Employers with job openings partner with vocational training providers in order to help people gain the necessary credentials for employment. $7 million increase over the H1 Budget proposal. Career Technical Institutes (7002-1091). The House budget provides more than $20.4 Million to support the continued growth of the Career Technical Institute Initiative, an innovative plan to expand access to vocational technical education for high school students and adults. Career Technical Institutes build out industry recognized credentialing pathways in high-demand technical and trade fields to retrain and grow the workforce. Since the program began in 2020, CTI has been used to open enough slots to train over 2,700 Massachusetts residents in 20 career pathway programs at 25 vocational-technical schools. $5 million increase over the H1 Budget proposal. Registered Apprenticeship Expansion (7003-0151). The House budget provides 5 Million to support and encourage the growth of the registered apprenticeship model to new industries. This program has been used to develop curriculums for state approved apprenticeship programs in Healthcare, Manufacturing and Technology. With additional funding, the program will be able to continue expanding its offerings in high-demand areas where apprenticeship programs do not widely exist. $4 million increase over FY 2023 budget. Demonstration Workforce Development Program (7003-0150). The House budget provides $4.75 Million for the Demonstration Workforce Development program. This program is an initiative administered through the Commonwealth Corporation, focused on improving workforce outcomes among individuals returning to the workforce after a period of incarceration. With the increase provided, the Commonwealth can continue to invest in supporting successful programs that help bring new people into the labor force at this time where employers are struggling to fill skilled positions. $1 million increase over the FY2023 Budget. Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (7003-0606). The House budget provides $2 Million for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The MassMEP is a collaborative center comprised of government, business, and academic partners that consults with small and medium sized manufacturers to support their operation. MassMEP provides services focused around helping manufacturing firms with operational matters, workforce strategies, and innovative growth opportunities. Level funded with FY2023 Budget. Small Business Technical Assistance Grants (7002-0040). The House budget provides $30 Million for Small Business Technical Assistance Grants. These grants are administered by the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and provided to community organizations across the Commonwealth to fund technical assistance or training programs for small businesses. These funds continue the Legislature’s commitment to supporting the small businesses that keep our communities vibrant. $25 million is targeted towards businesses that are minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned, or are focused on reaching underserved markets. $23 million increase over the H1 Budget proposal. Department of Economic Research (7003-0105): The House budget provides $850,889 to support the Department of Economic Research as it continues to build out its staff and create more means for the public to access economic data. In its first year, the department has been a catalyst to providing much-needed workforce data and projections which have provided a great deal of benefit to policymakers, workers, and employers. $250,000 over the FY2023 Budget. MassReconnect (1596-2418): Though this new program is situated under the Executive Office of Education, it is a critical part of the workforce development agenda for the Commonwealth. Under the House proposal, $20 Million would be used to provide last-dollar support through scholarships for Massachusetts residents over the age of 25 to attend community college for free. Financial support provided through the program would cover tuition, fees, books and supplies, making it easier for low-income students to enroll and remain enrolled. It would also target training opportunities for in-demand jobs in industries like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and health care. New Budget Item.

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