Secure Jobs Advisory Committee
February 8, 2016
In attendance: Ashley Brehm, HAPHousing, Bud Delphin, CareerPoint, Madeline Martinez, HAPHousing, Chris Montemayor, HAPHousing, Maegan Pedemonti, HAPHousing, Pamela Schwartz, Network, Maracelli Serrano, BerkshireWorks
January Progress Report (click here):
Hampden County: Job placements are almost double the goal (61 placements to date)
Shared individual success story (click ) – congratulations were shared on the great work.
Franklin/Hampshire: 3 enrollments
Berkshire County: 4 referrals, 1 enrollment
Mayor meeting updates:
Holyoke: In attendance were Mayor Morse, Ashley Brehm, Bud Delphin, Steve Huntley, Pamela Schwartz. It was a good discussion around possible opportunities for partnerships, specifically with regard to culinary arts. Ashley is in the process of scheduling a follow-up meeting with Alicia Zoeller, Holyoke CDGB director and liaison to the culinary programs.
Springfield: In attendance were Economic Development Director Kevin Kennedy, Housing Director Gerry McCafferty, Ashley Brehm, Kevin Lynn and Pamela Schwartz. The meeting offered an opportunity to update around the SJ program, although feedback from the City was limited in terms of possible liaisons or partnerships for job opportunities. They recommended we reach out to the REB.
Maegan discussed her outreach to direct program leaders at the REB, e.g., the point person for the health care initiative and making good contacts for job and training opportunities. The group agreed that this path is a promising one, and Maegan will continue the outreach with other initiatives such as manufacturing.
The group also agreed that outreach with FutureWorks has been productive, with a more direct link now established for sharing info and job opportunities. Outreach with STCC has also produced the same good pathways.
Chicopee – In attendance were Economic Development Director Mike Vedovelli and CDGB director Kathleen Lingenburg, Ashley Brehm, Steve Huntley, Pamela Schwartz. An exciting connection was made between Secure Jobs and Chicoopee’s new CDGB funded Business Assistance program for businesses within a particular downtown business district. Mike and Kathleen suggested that explicit encouragement could be made to businesses receiving funds (for capital improvements or expansion) to utilize Secure Jobs support to fulfill their requirements to provide employment opportunities to low-income individuals. Ashley is following up with Chicopee staff to solidify next steps.
Outreach to Senator Lesser: Maegan updated the group on its statewide Secure Jobs call, including the advocacy for FY18 funding. The statewide coalition is seeking $2 million to fully fund the program (the Governor’s FY18 budget included $800,000, level-funded compared to FY17). It was suggested on the call that outreach to Senator Lesser would be an important step towards advancing a broader base of Western MA support for the program. The group agreed to have Pamela reach out to Senator Lesser to try to schedule a meeting date. It was acknowledged that this meeting, while focused on Secure Jobs, would also include note of the Network’s other FY18 budget priorities since it is likely the Network will have only one meeting through the budget process.
Meeting schedule and next meeting date:
We agreed to experiment with meeting every other month, providing virtual updates by email in between. Therefore our next meeting will be on:
Wednesday, April 5
11 am – 12:15 pm
Holyoke Public Library
250 Chestnut Street
