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Neighborhood Jobs Trust distributes $1.2 million in grants to community organizations

Mar 03, 2016

Funding will support employment and workforce training opportunities for 340 Boston residents
 

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center graduation
The Mayor's Office of Workforce Development (OWD), an affiliate of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, recently awarded $1.2 million to 17 community-based employment and workforce development programs. The individual grants, ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, are administered through the Neighborhood Jobs Trust. The trust mitigates the impacts of large-scale real estate projects by collecting linkage fees from developers to invest annually in jobs and job training programs. The contracts, which last one year, are set to begin on March 1 and are estimated to serve approximately 340 residents.
 
“We must ensure that all Boston residents have a fair shot at realizing their full economic potential,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The job training programs funded by the Office of Workforce Development go a long way toward helping disadvantaged workers access opportunities that will enable them to support themselves and their families and thrive in our community.”
 
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Operation ABLE, International Institute of Boston, WORK Inc., and many other community organizations will use the funding to support a variety of employment and training programs. Several of these programs provide training in Boston's growing health care field, while others focus on industries ranging from construction and maintenance to professional opportunities in coding, banking and finance. Certain programs offer tailored services to particular groups of jobseekers, such as veterans, women, federal assistance recipients, and English language learners.

“It is important that we build a strong foundation for Boston’s future. Making funds available for workforce training and employment opportunities now ensures that Boston, as a whole, will reap the benefits later,” said Brian P. Golden, Director of the BRA.
 
This year's round of funding includes three new recipients. Maverick Landing Community Services will partner with Resilient Coders to provide an eight-week summer coding boot camp to low-income young adults from East Boston. The New England Center for Arts and Technology will prepare unemployed and underemployed students for jobs in the culinary arts via a 16-week training program. The North Bennet Street School will provide locksmithing and carpentry training to economically disadvantaged young adults.

"We're proud to fund innovative programs that prepare Boston's job seekers for the needs of our city's growing economy," said Trinh Nguyen, Director of the OWD. "We'll work closely with our new grantees to ensure they meet the same standard of excellence set by our long-standing award recipients."
  
In response to its October 2015 request for proposals (RFP), the OWD received 31 applications seeking a total of $2.8 million in Neighborhood Jobs Trust funds. A review committee of outside experts and OWD staff evaluated the proposals based on applicants' ability to place program graduates into jobs or into further training that could lead to jobs.
 
Community Organization Target Industry FY 2016 Funding Allotment
Action for Boston Community Development Early Education and Care (EEC) $50,000
Asian American Civic Association Banking and Finance $86,217
BEST Corp. Hospitality Training Center Hospitality $90,755
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center Customer Service in Retail (Focus on Supermarkets) $98,528
Community Servings, Inc. Culinary $97,117
International Institute of Boston Service Industry $100,000
Jewish Vocational Service Certified Nursing Assistance & Home Health Aide $50,000
Little Sisters of the Assumption/Project Hope Administration in Health Care Field $50,000
Maverick Landing Community Services Coding $60,050
Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries Human Services $50,000
New England Center for Arts and Technology (NECAT) Culinary $25,000
New England Center and Home for Veterans Professional Protection Officer & Commercial Driver License training & career paths $50,000
North Bennet Street School Carpentry, Locksmithing, & Security Technology $80,000
Operation ABLE Administration in Medical Office $91,166
St. Mary's Center for Women and Children Administration in Real Estate Management, Health Care, Higher Education, & Financial Services $91,167
WORK, Inc. Custodial & Facility Management $50,000
YMCA Training Inc. Administration & Customer Service in Insurance, Banking & Medical Office $80,000
TOTAL:   $1,200,000.00


 

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