Kevin E. Coughlin, Chairman of the Board
Barbara O'Neil, Director

Building Bridges Between Employers and Skilled Workers

Mission

The Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board (GLWIB) is a collaborative involving employers, educational institutions, labor groups, municipal and state officials, and community-based organizations that provides leadership, policy direction, and accountability for the local workforce development system.

By securing and allocating public and private funds for high quality, innovative, and collaborative workforce development programs, the GLWIB promotes a skilled and educated workforce, meets the workforce needs of employers, and supports and sustains economic development, business competitiveness, and job creation in Greater Lowell.

Who We Are

The Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board (GLWIB) is a private non-profit organization consisting of private business representatives, educational leaders, community based organizations, local and state agencies, economic and other workforce development groups.

High Performing Board

The GLWIB was recognized Friday, March 19th, for our recent designation of high performing board status.

Greater Lowell
Workforce Investment Board News

The Trend: More Jobs Take Training. The advice: Don't stop at high school

Reports show that in 2007, about 45 percent of all jobs were classified as middle-skill but only 32 percent of Massachusetts workers had the education and training required to fill those positions. These trends indicate a need for workers with just high school diplomas to advance their education. Click here to read the Lowell Sun article

At Career Center, Hope for Benefits

Career Center of Lowell Director Michael McQuaid was recently interivewed by the Lowell Sun about the importance for the Senate to restore the extensions of unemployment benefits. Yesterday, the Senate approved extensions. Click here to read Lowell Sun article

MERRIMACK VALLEY REGIONAL INNOVATION GRANT STRATEGIC PLAN AND WEBSITE

On Thursday, June 24, 2010 the Greater Lowell and Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Boards of Massachusetts and the New Hampshire Office of Workforce Opportunity conducedt a meeting with key stakeholders to announce release of the Merrimack Valley Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) Strategic Plan. Click the link above for the RIG Strategic Plan.

In addition to releasing the Strategic Plan, the event marked the launch of the RIG website; www.mvrig.org. The website is a resource for job seekers, manufacturing companies, economic and workforce development agencies, community-based organizations among others.

If you have questions regarding the RIG or development of the Strategic Plan, please contact Gail Brown, Senior Program Manager at the Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board.

Regional Innovation Grant - Asset Map Report

The Asset Map Report, part of work in progress on the United States Department of Labor Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) focusing on Manufacturing in the Merrimack Valley, was recently completed and presented to the Core Committee. The next phase of the Grant involves development of a website, which will include RIG resources and manufacturing sector job openings, and development of the Strategic Plan, scheduled for completion and release by end June.

WIB Member Corner:
Carolyn Langevin,
MA Rehabilitation Comission

Carolyn’s formative years were in Worcester, Massachusetts where she attended local schools and later Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts......

Labor Market Information:

LATEST JOB AND UNEMPLOYMENT ESTIMATES FOR LOCAL LABOR MARKETS IN THE COMMONWEALTH

BOSTON - Tuesday, July 20, 2010 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported that unemployment rates were lower in June than in May in seventeen of the Commonwealth's twenty-two labor market areas.  Unemployment rates were unchanged in the Springfield and North Adams areas and up in the remaining three areas.

Annual Profile for Greater Lowell Workforce Area - May 2009

MASSACHUSETTS JOBQUEST

Access the integrated JobQuest online service to identify jobs in the Greater Lowell area, post your resume, search for events and workshops and more….