BDCC Receives Federal Workforce Grant
In September, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) received just over $1 million in the form of a three-year workforce grant: Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC). The grant, offered through the Northern Border Regional Commission, is a federal Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration (DOL ETA) grant.
The WORC grant will support the Southern Vermont Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE), allowing BDCC to augment existing workforce programming for high schoolers through its Pipelines and Pipelines Program (P3) and employment and career development services for New Vermonters. WORC will enable BDCC to develop programming targeted to working adults, such as employment-oriented digital literacy. Programs will include training and coaching for people seeking to enter or transition to a new sector such as healthcare or manufacturing. WORC will also engage employers through education and training around a a changing workforce; hiring needs assessments to ascertain the nature of employment demand locally; and convenings that will further align the regional workforce with employment demand in jobs with strong wages and growth potential.
Read coverage from the Brattleboro Reformer here.
About WFCoE
The Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE) is a workforce and career training and education initiative that supports youth, adults, New Americans, and women in taking their next step in a career pathway. Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) provides one-to-one assistance, supportive services and career readiness training. The WFCoE leverages BDCC’s relationships with employers and regional workforce development partners, supporting both sides of the labor exchange to connect people with opportunity, and employers with the talent they need. The WFCoE is funded by a Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant from the Northern Borders Regional Commission and US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
