Recent News

Watch May’s “The Working Lunch” featuring Tim Garvin, CEO of the United Way of Central MA

The MCRWB’s popular (with a dedicated subset of viewers) monthly show, “The Working Lunch” features original host Mikayla Tucker-Davis and Second String co-host Bruce Mendelsohn talking with Tim Garvin, President and CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts. Discover the origin of Worcester Together and Tim’s timeless tales of community service. Produced by the City of Worcester’s award-winning Cable Services Division, TWL airs monthly. Subscribe: MCRWB’s YouTube Channel City of Worcester’s YouTube Channel

MassHire Central Region Workforce Board Awarded $2M YouthWorks Grant; Will Serve 510 Regional Youth Ages 14-25

MA Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones announced that the MassHire Central Region Workforce Board was awarded a $2,079,200 YouthWorks grant. Funds will enable the Board to provide employment opportunities to 510 regional young people ages 14-25. MCRWB’s programming focuses on industry exposure, mentorship, real-world experience, networking, and career exploration opportunities. Through a coalition of community partners and regional businesses, the MCRWB will provide work experiences at 70+ employer sites in priority industries such as advanced manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and more.  Commonwealth Corporation administers the YouthWorks program in partnership with MassHire Regional Workforce Boards to provide employment opportunities for young people ages 14-25 from more than 30 MA cities between July to August and September to June, annually. The program bridges the gap between youth and employment, generating emerging workers ready to enter the labor force.

Honoring Janice Ryan Weekes: A Champion for Workforce Empowerment

February 15, 2025 - Janice Ryan Weekes, Executive Director of MassHire Worcester Career Center, was honored at the Worcester Branch NAACP’s annual Black History Month celebration for her outstanding contributions to workforce development and economic empowerment in the community. As a dedicated advocate for job training and livable wages, Janice has positively impacted countless lives in and around Worcester. Her work has helped individuals gain the skills and opportunities needed for long-term success. The NAACP proudly recognized her as a local changemaker, celebrating her unwavering commitment to uplifting others.

Featured Business Program October 2024: Work Opportunity Tax Credit for Businesses

WOTC is a Federal tax credit incentive that employers may receive for hiring individuals from certain groups who have consistently faced barriers to employment.  The groups that qualify include: 1) Qualified IV-A ("TANF") recipient; 2) Qualified Veteran; 3) Qualified Ex-Felon; 4) Designated Community Resident; 5) Vocational Rehabilitation Referral; 6) Summer Youth Employee; 7) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or "food stamps") recipient; 8) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient; 9) Long-term Family Assistance (Long-term TANF) recipient; and 10) Qualified Long-term Unemployment recipient. The main objective of this program is to enable the targeted groups to gradually move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency as they earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers, while participating employers are compensated by being able to reduce their federal income tax liability. Employers make the hiring decision, and there is no limit to the number of new hires who can qualify the employer for the tax savings.  Employers must identify individuals as members of one of certain targeted groups before a job offer is made. The amount of the tax credit will be based on a percentage of qualified wages paid to the new employee for the first year of employment only (with the exception of the long term TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipient).  Both the percentage and the cap on qualifying wages vary based on which target group the new employee falls into. For more details on WOTC benefit amounts, visit: www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/. There are forms that must be completed.  Employers complete Page 1 of IRS Form 8850, Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, by the date of the job offer; and then Page 2 of the form, after the individual is hired.  This form[...]

Featured Business October 2024: BrightStar Care, Milford

Tri-Community YMCA, 43 Everett Street, Southbridge, MA 01550, (508) 765-5466 BrightStar Care, Milford 115 Water Street Milford, MA 01757 www.brightstarcare.com Shelly Sun founded BrightStar Care in 2002 in the Chicagoland area after facing a challenging personal experience seeking home care services for her grandmother and not finding the breadth of services – both medical and non-medical that her grandmother needed.  BrightStar Care provides medical and non-medical home health care and medical staffing services through a national network.  BrightStar Senior Living and BrightStar Care Homes provide assisted living and memory care in a senior living community setting.  Most recently, the company launched a medical staffing agency.  In 2005, to diversify and localize the company’s operations, franchising was offered, and over the last 20 years, BrightStar Care has grown to more than 365 franchised and company-owned locations nationwide employing 15,000 caregivers and 5,700 registered nurses who oversee the care and safety of clients. The company’s mission has been to provide to seniors, families, and those needing home care services a full continuum of care and to become a premium home care provider committed to deliver a higher standard of care, evidenced by network-wide nurse-led care and Joint Commission accreditation – the gold standard within the healthcare industry.  BrightStar Care® offers in-home care for people of all ages.  The caregivers and nurses deliver professional and compassionate care in the comfort and familiarity of clients’ homes. They provide a range of services from companionship and hygiene and mobility assistance to in-home blood draws and skilled nursing care that are available around the clock.  The care teams are led by a Director of Nursing who is a Registered Nurse (RN) to deliver expert compassionate personal care that empowers clients to live well[...]

Featured Business Program August 2024: DUA Workshare Program

Through the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), the WorkShare Program is an option for Massachusetts companies covered by the unemployment insurance (UI) system to manage employee hours in partnership with the UI benefit system.  The program allows employers to bring back furloughed employees and hire new employees on a reduced basis to incentivize a return to work, or to avert full layoffs.  Employees continue to receive a percentage of regular wages for the hours they work and receive a supplement from WorkShare through UI benefits.  In addition to that, if an employee is eligible, they can receive an allowance of $25 per dependent child if they are the main or sole provider. Before a business can apply for participation in the WorkShare Program, a WorkShare plan must be created. You must certify that the reduction in work hours is instead of layoffs; define the participants (definable unit with at least two employees such as a facility, department, shift, job function, etc.); provide the duration of the WorkShare plan (from 1 to 52 weeks); and provide the reason for the expected duration of the work reduction. The reduction percentage must be shared by all employees in the unit or units you have defined. The reduction percentage may range from 10-60%. The WorkShare Plan can be modified or canceled at any time. Employers can have more than one plan at a time. Employees listed in a WorkShare Plan must be permanent full-time or part-time workers; seasonal and temporary workers are not eligible. The WorkShare Program is voluntary, and an employee can decline participation.  WorkShare can include salaried workers if the employer reduces both hours and pay.  Employer owners/officers of the organization must be eligible to receive UI benefits to participate[...]

MassHire Central Region Career Centers Earn 2024 Jobs for Veterans State Grant Incentive (JVSG) “Gold Award”

(Worcester, MA): The Massachusetts Department of Career Services awarded MassHire Central Region Career Centers in Worcester and Southbridge the 2024 Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) Incentive “Gold Award”, infusing $14,900 to expand services to veterans in the City of Worcester and the 38 surrounding towns and communities served by Central Region Career Centers in Worcester and Southbridge. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Worcester County is home to 38,883 veterans. The JVSG Incentive Awards recognize the efforts of an entire MassHire Career Center (not just a Veterans unit or Veterans staff) whose efforts demonstrate: improvement and modernization of employment, training, and placement services for Veterans; the reward and celebration of excellence in priority of service; development and delivery of best practice techniques and improved performance outcomes for Veterans. The MassHire Career Centers selected for the JVSG Incentive Awards demonstrated teamwork in engaging partners and employers and used a collaborative approach to provide integrated services to Veterans. MassHire Worcester Career Center Director Janice Ryan Weekes said, “MassHire honors those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces by providing Priority of Service to our veterans. Our Career Centers offer a range of services to support veterans in their career endeavors, including job search assistance, career planning, training opportunities, resume services, access to computers and the internet, workshops, personalized support, and referrals to partner agencies. These services are available to all eligible veterans and eligible spouses. If you are or you know a veteran who needs this kind of help, please fill in the intake form on our website or contact our Veterans Representatives.” (contact info below) MassHire Southbridge Veterans Representative: Michael Hess (508-765-6430 x. 55317; hessm@masshirecentralcc.com) MassHire Worcester Veterans Representative: Bill Ryan (508-373-7620; ryanw@masshirecentralcc.com) About the JVSG Program: The U.S.[...]

Featured Business June 2024: Tri-Community YMCA

Tri-Community YMCA, 43 Everett Street, Southbridge, MA 01550, (508) 765-5466 Since, 1882 the Tri-Community YMCA has built a strong reputation for having health, fitness and social programs for area residents and families, and has grown to include assistance for at-risk children and families. The Southbridge branch is one part of several locations of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts that also includes Westboro, Worcester (2 locations), Leominster, and Fitchburg. Pre-school and after school childcare, older adult services, teen programs, summer camp programs, rehabilitation, health and wellness programs, and literacy and family activities have all provided a long history of opportunities for members and non-members to enhance their lives by building healthy spirit, mind, and bodies. And it is through their largest program called the Annual Campaign, that the Y secures the financial gifts needed to deliver the programs and services. And besides memberships, other events such as LIVESTRONG Y Cancer Support Program and the annual Golf Classic also contribute towards fundraising and the delivery of all programs. The Southbridge branch has had some major capital improvements recently such as an expanded childcare program that can service an additional 25 children; a new HVAC system in the gym; a new concrete floor in the fitness room with additional cardio vascular and other exercise machines; a cancer survivor wellness program; a program called “What’s For Dinner” where people can call ahead or walk in for pre-packaged meals Thursdays through Saturdays (currently serving 300 families every week); and a new water safety swim program for grade 3 school students called “Just Get In The Water”. Technology has even become part of the organization bringing the “YMCA360” experience that is offered 24/7 on mobile devices, TV, and the web (in participating markets).[...]

Featured Business Program June 2024: MassMEC Initiative, Old Baker Chocolate Factory

MassMEC Initiative, Old Baker Chocolate Factory, One Adams Street, Milton MA, (888) 763-2759     The MassMEC (Manufacturing Energy Collaboration) is a new initiative created to decrease the energy bills of commercial, industrial, and municipal entities within the state. MassMEC combines the energy usage of many companies into buying groups, then negotiates volume rates with the power supply companies so businesses can save on energy. Buying in bulk can reduce a company’s electricity and natural gas costs. The initiative provides businesses with a trusted resource to: - Ensure your business is paying the lowest available electricity and natural gas supply costs - Avoid paying sales tax on utilities unnecessarily when eligible for exemption - Save money on energy efficiency upgrades by leveraging available state and utility incentives - Explore and evaluate onsite solar, community solar, onsite battery storage, electric vehicle charging, and other energy-related projects By placing businesses into groups with similar energy needs, aspects such as rate class, load factor, capacity, and location can be used to determine with whom a company is best grouped. EarlyBird Power, the licensed energy company that was selected by MassDevelopment to manage the program, then negotiates on behalf of MassMEC with qualified power suppliers in the region for the lowest available market price. It’s easy to see how this kind of competition and forward planning can create fantastic energy pricing for companies. To participate and get started (as long as your business has at least one electricity and/or natural gas utility account), email one recent utility bill for each electricity and/or natural gas account to: billaudit@massmec.com. To discuss specific questions or learn more about the program, call (888) 763-2759. You are also invited to ask any questions you may have[...]