BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA – The Berkshire Workforce Skills Cabinet, co-chaired by MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, 1Berkshire and Berkshire Community College met last week after receiving a $30,000 support grant from the state. This cabinet brings together sector leaders from education, private sector business, workforce development and economic development to collectively work to advance workforce skills projects and grant seeking opportunities for Berkshire County.
Funded via the auspices of Governor Charlie Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet program, administered by the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and contracted with 1Berkshire, the Workforce Skills Cabinet will spend the next 7 months auditing existing assets, developing a plan to meet projected benchmark goals, and implementing mechanisms to track workforce development metrics within Berkshire County. As one of only 7 designated Workforce Skills Cabinets in the Commonwealth, the Berkshire Workforce Skills Cabinet will be working collaboratively and collectively to address the significant needs specifically in the industries of healthcare & social assistance, hospitality & management, and advanced manufacturing with timelines ranging from within 2018, going out through 2022.
About MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board
MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board is composed of knowledgeable and influential business and community leaders who are appointed by the Mayor of Pittsfield on behalf of the thirty-two communities of Berkshire County. The board serves as the oversight and policy-making body for federally funded employment and training services in the region. The board also has the broader role of addressing critical labor market issues and developing strategic partnerships with local leaders in economic development, the K-12 and higher education system, government agencies, chambers of commerce, community-based and labor organizations. For more information, visit MassHireBerkshire.com
About Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College was founded in 1960 as the first community college established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Today, there are 15 community colleges throughout the state. During its first 12 years, BCC was located in downtown Pittsfield in a former junior high school made available by the city. There, enrollment group from 153 to 1,222 students. In 1972, the college moved to its present location occupying a magnificent 180-acre site four miles from the center of Pittsfield. Twelve years later, a satellite facility known as the South County Center opened in Great Barrington. Each year, roughly 2,000 students enroll in day or evening credit courses at the main campus, off-campus sites, and/or online.
About 1Berkshire
1Berkshire is a county-wide organization focused on economic development and promotion of the region as a preferred place to visit, to live, and to grow a business. It provides programs that connect businesses with each other and with potential customers, as well as works to develop future leaders and support entrepreneurs. For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.
For more information, contact:
Heather Boulger, Mass Hire Berkshire Workforce Board Executive Director
(413) 447-7177 x150
Heather@MassHireBerkshire.com
