Secretary Bump's Remarks at the June 2009 MWIB Meeting

Video Transcript - Secretary Bump's Remarks at the June 2009 MWIB Meeting

What I'd like to do now is just give you a very brief update on the stimulus act and the monies that have come to the Commonwealth and how we are utilizing them. We are very pleased that there is a substantial amount of stimulus money that has been devoted for workforce development in Massachusetts.

In fact, through the Workforce Investment Act vehicle there is over $56 million; the Governor started to announce the ways in which this money was going to be used in April with the announcement of the portion of funds that was being dedicated to summer jobs, youth job creation, but also an expansion of youth work and learning models. Between the stimulus money of approximately $24 million, the Governor's summer jobs program known as Youthworks, and some money made available under stimulus by the Executive Office of Public Safety, we have over $30 million commitment this year and next to support for youth programming and in particular summer jobs. We estimate that this year we will be able to create at least 10,000 work opportunities for youth. Obviously much needed at a time when other educational resources are in decline and also given the state of our economy and the barriers for employment to young people.

We are also receiving $10 million for services for adults, for low-income adults. That money is going to be used principally for training grants to be made available to low-income adults.

There is additionally $21 million of training and employment services money available for dislocated workers - folks who have become recently unemployed. That represents altogether almost a full year's worth of additional funding for the system and the willingness of the workforce boards and the career centers to devote such a substantial portion specifically to training grants is something I really have to acknowledge and express appreciation for, so thank you to all of you who represent those entities.

Additionally, there is over $3 million that has been made available for staffing in the career centers and an additional $8 million for re-employment services that can be used more generally.

So, we are very excited about the opportunity that this represents. I want to acknowledge the Governor and thank him very much.