Southwick DPW Director Randy Brown. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
SOUTHWICK – The Select Board approved a new program proposed by DPW Director Randy Brown at the Select Board meeting on Wednesday night.
Organized by the University of Massachusetts, the Community Works Program is funded through a grant program that is offered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The program is sponsored by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, The Construction Institute, Western MassCOSH (Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health), Career Point, the Community Education Project, and the UMass L/M (Labor/Management) Workplace Education.
A six-week adult workforce training program, the Community Works Program allows individuals 18-years-old and older who are unemployed and have either a high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development) to prepare them for the workplace. The six weeks will allow participants in the program to work for an organization in both the Greater Springfield and Holyoke areas while receiving a full salary during that time period. The organization employing the individual will get reimbursed by the Community Works Program after the six weeks has concluded.
Other requirements for the program include:
– be a low income unemployed or underemployed resident of Springfield or Holyoke metro area
– be authorized to work in the United States and possess a high school diploma or GED (individuals with college degrees not eligible)
– possess a valid driver’s license
– have an insured and operable vehicle (or a realistic plan to obtain a vehicle by the end of the program)
– have an interest in pursuing a career in the building trades
– be able to perform physically challenging work and tolerate weather extremes
– be drug free and able to pass a drug test for admission into and during the program
– be proficient in math and English
– have no prior affiliation with a building trades union or work in commercial construction
According to Brown, he and DPW Supervisor Chris Faria have met with a person that is part of the program and they are planning on having that individual work for them for the six-week period.
The program reached out to Brown earlier this summer and he felt it would be a good opportunity.
“We always have plenty of work to do and we could always use more bodies,” said Brown. “We met with the one individual and we felt he would be a good fit.”
Brown noted that this person has had some manufacturing experience and hopes that the program will also benefit the individual with a career.
“That’s the goal is to help them move forward, so whether it’s here or someone else, to give them the opportunity to show their skills and see if this is something they’d like to pursue.
Before the person begins their six weeks working at the DPW, they will have to go through the standard hiring process of a C.O.R.I. check and other steps.
In order to apply to the Community Works Program, you have to attend an information session and submit an application form with all of the proper documentation.
For more information on this program, contact Pam Howland, the Community Works Director at 413-545-1472 or [email protected].
