We’re in the thick of the FY17 State Budget process. Check out the information and resources below for everything you need to know this budget season! And keep reading for more SkillWorks and workforce news and updates!
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Workforce Solutions Group (WSG) is SkillWorks' primary public policy advocacy grantee and partner. As such, WSG advocates for an effective workforce development system that increases workers’ skills, advances families to self-sufficiency and promotes job creation and economic growth. This includes deep involvement in the state budget process each year.
$4M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (7002-1065), supporting job training partnerships that identify critical job vacancies and work with employers to train people for quality jobs with upward career paths.
YouthWorks(7002-0012) was level funded at $11.5M which would result in a net loss of 600 jobs due to the increase in the minimum wage. Last year we lost 750 jobs so this would make a cumulative loss of 1,350 youth jobs over the last two years. Please ask your senators to support an amendment lifting this appropriation to $13.3 to avoid this job loss for at risk teens.
$2.8M for School-to-Career-Connecting Activities (7027-0019), which supports paid internships for high school students across the Commonwealth. This is less than Governor Baker's recommended $5.4M. Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz is the lead sponsor on the amendment to increase back to $5.4 million: please ask Senators to contact Anthony.Thomas@masenate.gov to co-sponsor this amendment.
Senator Michael Moore's amendment to fund paid work study for families on TAFDC at community colleges and to pay for navigators to help these students succeed in college. The amendment would provide $2.5 million to connect these low income parents to a community college education and economic self-sufficiency. Ask your senators to support this amendment!
And please call your Senators today about these important job training efforts!
Advocacy Resources:
Here are some informative resources to provide additional details and context around Massachusetts state workforce funding and policy. Please feel free to use, share, and refer to these resources when engaging in advocacy efforts!
Skills to Succeed:a presentation on the new policy advocacy campaign to increase workforce outcomes and resources in Massachusetts. Please also click below for a two-sided infographic depicting the Skills Gap in Massachusetts and the Four Point Plan for Job and Career Growth in Massachusetts.
On Tuesday, March 29th, SkillWorks, the Workforce Solutions Group, and the rest of the Alliance for Vocational Technical Education (AVTE) held a legislative briefing and advocacy day at the Massachusetts State House to garner support for their policy recommendations to improve Massachusetts’ Vocational Technical Education system.