GARDNER — Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) will be a workforce training partner in a $150,000 state workforce partnership grant awarded to the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation, an arm of the North Central Mass. Chamber of Commerce.
Through this award, MWCC will partner with the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and the Spanish American Center to increase enrollment and completion rates in high-demand career fields including Information technology, healthcare, and education.
The project will combine targeted outreach, industry-aligned technical skills training, and comprehensive student support services, along with critical English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction and direct employer connections to create sustainable career pathways.
“This initiative reflects MWCC’s continued commitment to meeting the workforce needs of our region while ensuring equitable access to education and career advancement,” said MWCC president James Vander Hooven. “By partnering with NCMDC and trusted community organizations, we are expanding opportunity for residents and helping build a stronger local workforce.”
Building on the foundation and successes of the partners’ past, nationally-recognized Equitable Credentialing Initiative, this collaboration will strengthen access to workforce training and support services.
MWCC will play a key role in delivering training and student support services designed to help participants successfully complete credentials and transition into employment. The NCMDC and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will connect participants with employer partners and workforce opportunities, while the Spanish American Center will provide culturally responsive outreach and essential ESL programming to ensure broader access for multilingual learners and immigrant communities.
“Strong regional economies are built on access to skilled talent, and this grant reflects the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation’s commitment to strengthening the economic foundation of our region. Working alongside Mount Wachusett Community College and the Spanish American Center, we are creating real career pathways for residents in the fields where our employers need talent most,” Roy Nascimento, president and CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce.
Together, the partners aim to remove barriers to training and employment, increase credential attainment, and strengthen the regional workforce pipeline in sectors that continue to experience critical demand.
For more information about MWCC workforce programs and training opportunities, visit mwcc.edu.
-Mount Wachusett Community College
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