Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board - Workforce Development Projects

Labor Market Information

Latest Job and Unemployment Estimates for Local Labor Markets in the Commonwealth

BOSTON MA - April 23, 2013 --- The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today reported that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates for March 2013 were down in eight areas; up in seven areas; and unchanged in seven areas over the month. Over the year, the rates were down in fourteen areas; up in five areas; and unchanged in three areas.

Annual Profile for Greater Lowell Workforce Area - May 2010

Workforce Development Projects

The Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board is involved in a variety of programs and initiatives. While information related to youth-specific programs can be found in our Youth Section, the latest information on other GLWIB programs is available here. Be sure to check frequently to see what the GLWIB is working on and determine how our activities may be of service to your organization or business.

Northeast Energy Sector Partnership

In association with the Massachusetts State Energy Sector Partnership (MA-SESP), NESP is a partnership between the GLWIB and Merrimack Valley and North Shore Workforce Investment Boards as well as one-stop career centers; businesses in the renewable energy/energy efficiency (RE/EE) field; three community colleges; labor representatives and may include vocational-technical schools and community-based organizations in the future. The goal of the partnership and grant is to create an integrated system of education and training that promotes skill attainment and career pathway development benefiting both business and workers in the RE/EE sector.

To date, the GLWIB/CCL has trained over 90 participants (57 incumbents, 36 dislocated workers) and have worked with 16 local companies.

Greater Lowell Ex-Offender Re-Entry Partnership

The Community Re-Entry strategic plan is an initiative of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and supports the work of the Governor’s Inter-agency Task Force on Pre- and Post-Release Programming for Ex-Offender’s. The GLWIB was awarded funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Labor Secretary’s Ex-Offender Re-Entry Partnership Planning Grant Program.

The GLWIB is partnering with the Lowell Police Department and Crime and Justice Institute of Boston to create a strategic plan that will be used as a tool for organizations in the region to utilize when assisting ex-offender customers

GLWIB-MCC Academy for Health Professions

Funded by ARRA and Commonwealth Corporation, the GLWIB and the Career Center of Lowell (CCL) are partnering with Middlesex Community College (MCC) to offer a comprehensive healthcare certificate-to-work career pathways project that prepares participants for entry level positions as Certified Nursing Associates, Medical Receptionist, Phlebotomist, and Medical Secretary. The newly founded Middlesex Community College Academy for Health Professions (AHP) offers participants an opportunity to complete a certificate in 27 weeks and enter the workforce or continue studies with potential to earn an Associate’s degree. Additionally, the partnership offers a four-week full-time non-credit C.N.A. training program also through MCC.

The Career Center of Lowell will provide employment services with a Program Manager assigned to work one-on-one with participants to assist them with extensive job search/job readiness instruction and strategic job development and placement as well as case management.

Regional Innovation Grant

Through a Regional Innovation Grant (RIG) awarded by the United States Department of Labor, the Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board, in collaboration with our partners, the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board and the New Hampshire Office of Workforce Opportunity, worked on an initiative to support the sustainability of our regional manufacturing industry. The results of this partnership include, a Regional Strategic Plan, Asset Map Report for the Manufacturing Sector, and a project website www.mvrig.org. All reports and resources can be found on this website.

This project has formally connected representatives from Merrimack Valley manufacturing companies, state and local economic and workforce development organizations, education, and training providers to form the Merrimack Valley Manufacturing Advocates (MVMA). The MVMA will focus on maintaining and expanding manufacturing in the region.

Health Care Learning Network (HCLN)

The Health Care Learning Network is an interactive distance learning health care project designed to assist incumbent long-term care employees with educational programs. Employees are able to participate in the courses on-line and at their convenience. The goal of HCLN is to assist workers in meeting entrance requirements for college health care education programs. More information on how employers and employees can benefit from this program is available from the Health Care Learning Network.