MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce to Receive $2,003,756.17 Grant Funding to Hire 460 Youth

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7/3/2023

MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce to Receive $2,003,756.17 Grant Funding to Hire 460 Youth

(Lawrence, Massachusetts) – Lieutenant Governor Kimberley Driscoll and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones joined youth participants, employers and supervisors, and state partners to announce that the Healey-Driscoll Administration is awarding $34.4 million in state funding grants to support the hiring of 7,655 youth in summer and year-round employment through the YouthWorks program for the 2023-2024 program year. The YouthWorks program provides teens and young adults with hands-on work experience and soft-skill development in regions across the Commonwealth.

“The YouthWorks program opens doors for young people to gain real-world work experience and the opportunity to explore potential career pathways. The funding announced today will help shape the futures of more than 7,000 youth and young adults across the state, while also providing them with a hard-earned paycheck,” said Governor Healey. “When we invest in Massachusetts’ next generation of talent, we all win.”

“Investing in employment opportunities for youth and young adults is critically important as we build a strong pipeline of future talent in Massachusetts,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “Our administration appreciates the collaboration with each regional workforce board and the network of local hiring partners, opening their doors to provide young people with hands-on learning and work experience while also benefitting our local economies statewide.”

MassHire Merrimack Valley Workforce Executive Director, Frank Bonet said “The Merrimack Valley Workforce thanks Governor Healey, LT Governor Driscoll, and Secretary Jones who all continue to dedicate the funding source, programs, and policies to train the workforce of today and tomorrow. The funds will help expand youth job training and workforce activities, including soft-skill development, career exploration, job readiness, summer jobs, and year-round job opportunities. The program allows out-of-school time organizations to partner with local workforce boards and youth-serving organizations, bridging the gap between their existing activities and the need to expose youth to career-related services to better prepare them to enter the workforce.”

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