Regional Initiatives
Working Together: Massachusetts' Regional Workforce Strategies Initiative
The Massachusetts Regional Workforce Strategy Initiative is a statewide effort to build regional pipelines to prepare Massachusetts workers for high demand jobs.
This statewide initiative will bring leaders in business, education, government, and workforce development together to develop concrete plans and partnerships to fill jobs that are in-demand in each region of the state and to develop pathways to the skills and opportunities that lead to success in our economy.
The initiative begins with four regional events this spring, with four more in the fall. To learn more about these events, click here.
Industry Sector Strategies: Current CommCorp Sector Initiatives
Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF)
The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) is a three-year initiative focused on several critical industry sectors. It is designed to enable a broad range of residents—including older workers, low-wage workers, low-income individuals, disabled citizens, vulnerable youth, incumbent workers and the unemployed—to gain access to employment, education and the skills necessary to move forward along a career path leading to economic self-sufficiency.
To view the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
Regional Implementation Grants
Round Two Application, please click here.
Please note: Attachments 1-9 are also in Word format. Please click here to view Attachments 1-9.
Extended Care Career Ladder Initiative (ECCLI)
ECCLI improves the quality of care for patients in long-term care while improving the worklife for caregivers through education, training, and the creation of career ladders. Since 2000, ECCLI has helped more than 160 nursing homes and home health agencies train over 7,500 staff members, impacting about 25% of the Massachsuetts long-term care industry.
Past Sector Initiatives
BayStateWorks
BayStateWorks has helped employers retain, and stregthen the skills of, their workers. The program led to employment for 229 formerly unemployed people, including 31 who had been homeless. Twenty employer-driven projects were funded across the state over two years.
Building Essential Skills Training (BEST)
Through the Building Essential Skills through Training (BEST) Initiative, Massachusetts pooled the talent, resources, and expertise of its education and training agencies to provide employers in various sectors with effective ways to improve productivity and the skills of their workforce. The initiative served 3,021 workers with 37 companies participating. Sixty-four percent of employers reported cost savings and 68% reported positive return on investment. Created in 2001, BEST was transformed into BayStateWorks in 2004.
BEST Older Youth
Building on the design of the original Building Essential Skills through Training (BEST) Initiative, BEST for Older Youth was launched in February, 2003, and trained individuals 18-24 years old to master basic academic skills, develop occupational skills, and become employed in jobs with career potential. Seven regions collaborated with key service providers to accomplish a strong, integrated, employer-driven project. This included Workforce Investment Boards, adult basic education providers, training providers, and local youth stakeholders.
Nursing Career Ladder Initiative (NUCLI)
NUCLI has reduced the nursing shortage by increasing the number of graduates and improving the nurse education pipeline in Massachusetts. With partnerships created in four regions of the state, the results were impressive; 823 graduated, 625 obtained RN licensure, and,1013 individuals are in the pipeline. NUCLI also brought forward the nursing shortage as an issue and supported development of the Massachusetts Center for Nursing.
