Community Action Pioneer Valley was among 14 organizations recently awarded nearly $1.7 million in funding to support workforce training for formerly incarcerated individuals re-entering the workforce.
With the help of a $160,000 grant, Community Action, based in Greenfield, will work with both the Franklin County and Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office to implement a training program focused on the manufacturing industry.
“Returning to the community is a very difficult time for folks,” said Lisa Lapierre, director of youth and workforce development at Community Action. “A lot of time we’re dealing with things as basic as appropriate clothing for work … as well as just providing the support for people in a big transition in their life and helping them … get back on their feet.”
The grant, which is funded through the Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program, grew out of the state’s Task Force on Economic Opportunity for Populations Facing Chronically High Rates of Unemployment, according to a state announcement. The task force found that formerly incarcerated individuals experienced complex needs that require intensive interventions for them to be successful in securing and maintaining employment.
Lapierre said Community Action runs its training program in collaboration with Greenfield Community College (GCC) and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center. The program, which will begin its third cycle with this grant, includes intensive case management and a manufacturing training course provided by GCC. MassHire, then, offers support in writing résumés and cover letters.
“Then we place them at one of our partner organizations,” she said. “We’re able to pay the manufacturing company for the first few weeks to help someone get their foot in the door … with the goal of them entering employment and … starting a career.”
The program helps to address some of the barriers to employment faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, such as criminal offender recorder information (CORI) checks and gaps in their resumes.
“The businesses we’re working with expect that,” Lapierre said. “They know who they are.”
Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement that the efforts of community organizations to mitigate these barriers helps to improve workforce readiness for those re-entering the community.
“These Re-Entry Grants,” he said, “are focused on evidence-based outcomes that best prepare those who have served their time to find employment that helps support themselves and their families.”