MA State Grants Awarded to Career Centers and Partners for Outstanding Work with Veterans

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development today announced that five of the state’s One-Stop Career Centers have been honored for outstanding service to Veterans.

The Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Services (DOL/VETS) allows the Department of Career Services (DCS) to set aside a portion of funds available under the Job for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) for purposes of performance incentive awards.

DCS recognizes the efforts of an entire One-Stop Career Center and its’ Workforce Partners who have made a substantial contribution or effort in the provision of quality service and dedication to improving employment opportunities for Veterans and, whose contributions involving Veterans extend to the local community at large.

“I am proud of the outstanding work that the state’s One-Stop Career Centers do every day, and it brings us great satisfaction to support the centers in their work with Veterans,” said Joanne F. Goldstein, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development. “Our Veterans have given great service to their country, and upon returning home, they can count on the Patrick- Murray administration to make Veteran re-employment a top priority.”

“Massachusetts is the national leader in veterans’ services for many reasons, but none more so than the strong collaborations we have made to maximize our resources and provide world-class, comprehensive benefits to our service members and their families,” said Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee. ” The successful programs at DCS and the Career Centers are a great example of how state and federal programs can come together to ensure we are creating innovative and meaningful programs to successfully transition our veterans from combat to career success.”

Alice Sweeney, Acting Director of DCS announced the recipients at a recent meeting of the state’s  Career Centers and partners: “This year JVSG Incentive Awards have been presented to: FutureWorks located Springfield, MA; Workforce Central Career Centers in Worcester, Southbridge and Milford, MA; and, Franklin Hampshire Career Centers located in Greenfield and Northampton, MA.”

FutureWorks Career Center is the recipient of the Jobs for Veteran State Grant (JVSG) Gold Award in the amount of $10,500 for:  Innovative Approaches to Engaging the Business Community on behalf of Veteran Jobseekers such as the following: FutureWorks CC was instrumental in the creation, marketing and execution of the first Western Massachusetts Employer Summit, a collaboration of the City of Springfield, the Veteran’s Administration, Franklin-Hampshire Career Center, Mass Latino, Chamber of Commerce, Springfield College,  and Western New England University.  The summit was designed to educate the business community on the technical and leadership skills that Veterans possess.

Workforce Central Career Centers in Worcester, Southbridge and Milford are the recipients of the Jobs for Veteran State Grant (JVSG) Silver Award in the amount of $8,250 for:  their unified approach to engaging community partners and employers to better serve our Veteran customers. This is the second consecutive year that the Workforce Central Career Centers have won a JVSG incentive award. Workforce Central is consistently among the top three career centers within the state when it comes to the sheer volume of Veterans that seek services at their career centers. Their services to Veterans demonstrate both teamwork and a holistic approach, recognizing the many factors affecting a veteran’s return to work.  Their accomplishments included planning two significant veteran-oriented job fairs to salute area Veterans that included collaboration with the local hockey team, the Worcester Sharks.

Franklin/Hampshire Career Centers in Northampton is the recipient of the Jobs for Veteran State Grant (JVSG) Bronze Award in the amount of $6,125 for: innovation in addressing issues of Homeless Veterans and those at risk for homelessness. Franklin/ Hampshire Career Center (FHCC), Northampton office, provides outreach and employability services for homeless and recovering Veterans residing at the Soldier On facility located at the VA Medical Center in Leeds, MA, and in the VA sponsored Cherry Street Transitional Residence in Northampton.   FHCC recognized that some Veterans were falling through the cracks, unaware of the wide range of resources available to them within the community.  The Career Center saw the immediate need to better connect these Veteran customers with all the Veteran service agencies and to that end, the FHCC created the Pioneer Valley Veteran Employment Partnership (PVVEP).  This partnership consisting of community based Veteran Service Agency representatives works together to harness resources, programs and events offering quality services that together meet their Veteran customers’ individual needs.

November 11, 2012
Plymouth Senior Center
Veterans Appreciation Breakfast, 10:30 a.m.
10 Cordage, Park Circle #108, Plymouth, MA
Contact: Jim Quigley, [email protected]

November 12, 2012
Career Point Career Center
Veterans Day Job Fair, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
850 High Street, Holyoke, MA
Contact: Kate Smith, [email protected]
Linda Candage, [email protected]

November 13, 2012
FutureWorks Career Center
Small Business Development Workshop, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Federal Street, Springfield, MA
Contact: Kevin Lynn, [email protected]
Registration Required

November 13, 2002
Lowell Career Center
Veterans Benefits and Energy Job Fair, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
107 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852
Contact: Cathy Byrnes, [email protected]
Registration Required

November 14, 2012
Plymouth Career Center
Veterans Job Fair, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Veterans Only)
36 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth, MA
Contact: Mike Kelley, [email protected]

November 14, 2012
Taunton Career Center
Veterans Career and Resource Fair, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
The Taunton Holiday Inn
700 Myles Standish Boulevard, Taunton, MA
Contact: Eric Alberto, [email protected]

November 14, 2012
Lowell Career Center
Veterans Resources Information,10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
107 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA
Contact: Cathy Byrnes, [email protected]

November 14, 2012
Fall River Career Center
Job Fair and Career Information Session, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (Veterans Only, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
1 Government Center, Fall River, MA
Contact: Diane Nadeau, [email protected]

November 14, 2012
North Shore Career Center of Lynn
Hire Heroes Reverse Job Fair, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
181 Union Street, Lynn, MA
Contact: Laurie Glynn, [email protected]

November 14, 2012
The Career Place Career Center
LinkedIn for Veterans, 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Trade Center Park
100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn, MA
Contact: Paul Reynolds, [email protected]

November 15, 2012
Lowell Career Center
Veterans Job Fair, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ( Veterans only -10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.)
107 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA
Contact: Cathy Byrnes, [email protected]
John Stepaniak, [email protected]

November 15, 2012
North Central Career Center Gardner
Career Directions for Veterans Workshop, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
25 Main Street, Gardner, MA

Contact Jim Chamberlain, [email protected]
Kristine Libertucci, [email protected]

November 16, 2012
Workforce Central Career Centers
Veterans Job Fair, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Auburn/Webster Elks Lodge
754 Southbridge Street/Rt. 12, Auburn, MA
Contact: Larry Corbin, [email protected]
Jennithan Cortes, [email protected]

November 16, 2012
The Career Place Career Center
Building Relationships
Veterans Employment Workshop, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Trade Center Park
100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn, MA
Contact: Paul Reynolds, P[email protected]
Registration Required

November 16, 2012
BerkshireWorks Career Center
Labor Market information for Veterans, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
160 North Street 3^rd fl., Pittsfield, MA
Contact: David Nash [email protected]

Registration Required

November 19, 2012
CareerWorks Career Center
Veterans Benefits and Resources, 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
34 School Street, Brockton, MA
Contact: Kara Galvin, [email protected]
James Schmit, [email protected]

November 27, 2012
Valley Works Career Centers
Veterans Career Fair, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Northern Essex Community College
Technology Center
100 Elliot Street, Haverhill, MA
Contact: Eric Nelson, [email protected]

November 27, 2012
Career Source Career Center
Multi-Industry Job Fair, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Veterans Only)
Holiday Inn
30 Washington Street, Somerville, MA
Contact: Laurie Holman, [email protected]
Sibylle DeCarlo,[email protected]

November 27, 2012
The Career Place Career Center
Video Resume for Veterans, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Trade Center Park
100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn, MA
Contact: Paul Reynolds, [email protected]
Registration Required

November 28, 2012
The Career Place Career Center
Veterans Job Fair, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Veterans Only)
100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn, MA
Contact: Paul Reynolds, [email protected]

November 28, 2012
North Central Career Center Leominster
Human Resources Panel Discussion for Veterans, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
100 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA
Contact: Jim Chamberlain, [email protected]
Kristine Libertucci, [email protected]

November 29, 2012
Quincy Career Center
Veterans Job Fair, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Veterans Only)
152 Parkingham Way, Quincy, MA
Contact: Fred Myerson, [email protected]
Mike Carco, [email protected]
Laura Hoitt, [email protected]

November 29, 2012
North Central Career Center Leominster
Career Directions for Veterans Workshop, 9:00 a.m.
100 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA
Contact: Jim Chamberlain, [email protected]
Kristine Libertucci, [email protected]

Posted by jcashman on Nov 10 2012. Filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry