BEST Older Youth Projects
Grants totaling $2,459,000 were earmarked from WIA Title I, II and IV performance incentive funds. The awards permit seven Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to strengthen services to older youth (ages 18-24) by establishing connections among the WIBs, adult basic education providers, Perkins grant recipients, occupational training providers, and other local youth stakeholders, in ways that will lead to long-term system building.
The projects were launched in the summer of 2003. Here is a summary of our projects:
Bristol Workforce Investment Board
Training in Health Care and Manufacturing
Award: $291,100
The project is engaging manufacturing and the allied health industries, which are critical employer bases in the region. The project provides ongoing counseling, case management, job readiness/job development activities including workshops, career exploration, educational remediation, occupational training and part-time employment.
Franklin County Regional Employment Board
Training in Hospitality and Culinary Arts
Award: $ 283,889
The project provides an essential skills education and training program, which will include case management, career coaching, support services, basic skills remediation, workplace readiness, basic computer skills, customer service, entrepreneurship, job shadowing and try-out-employment. The project focuses on an industry cluster of hospitality and culinary arts.
Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board
Training in Health/Human Services or Banking/Business
Award: $ 290,794
The project provides educational remediation, including ESOL, and occupational skills development in health/human services and banking/business. Youth receive a complete menu of employment/re-employment services, case management, career coaching, support services, internships, job shadowing and employment.
Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board
Training in the Financial Sector
Award: $ 282,271
The goal of the project is to develop an infrastructure that will integrate various funding streams and systems to produce a skilled labor force of bi-lingual workers to meet the high demand for employees in the financial services industry in the region. The project offers educational remediation including numeracy and ESOL, computer literacy, co-ops/internships/job shadowing, case management, employability development workshops, career coaching and support services.
Boston Private Industry Council
Training in Web Production, Facilities Maintenance, Culinary Arts, Medical Office, Appliance Repair and Customer Service
Award: $ 289,729
The project offers integrated educational and occupational training for youth, primarily for positions in industries that do not exclude youth with criminal records. Youth who need MCAS remediation and ESOL will be among those served.
Metro North Regional Employment Board
Training in Health Care
Award: $ 291,100
The project offers customized occupational skills in the healthcare industry, basic education or ESOL, intensive case management, support services, mentoring and career development services. The youth receive a foundation of occupational skills designed to lead them to several career pathways. In addition to classroom training, youth will be placed in meaningful, supervised internships, job shadowing, and permanent employment in healthcare.
North Shore Workforce Investment Board (formerly Southern Essex)
Training in Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry and Auto Mechanics
Award: $ 291,100
The primary goal of the project is to develop and implement a system through which youth can successfully enter the trades, a critical industry in the region. The trade focus includes electrical, plumbing and auto mechanics. The youth receive educational service and/or GED preparation, along with work readiness training, career exploration activities, occupational training, work experience, case management, career coaching and support services. Employers and unions provide employment opportunities to complement education and training.
