WORCESTER—In a packed room at Quinsigamond Community College last week, business leaders and educators gathered to talk about an old idea gaining new urgency: earn while you learn.
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce announced it has joined the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Network, a statewide initiative led by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation that works with employers to build structured apprenticeship programs across industries.
The move aligns the region’s largest business organization with a network that has expanded beyond its construction roots into healthcare, engineering, advanced manufacturing, banking and cybersecurity—sectors facing persistent workforce shortages. To date, the initiative has supported more than 800 apprentices statewide and has set a goal of reaching 1,000 by 2027, according to event organizers.
Apprenticeships combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Organizers say the model produces strong retention rates, with 91% of apprentices hired by their employers upon completing training.
“It’s good business,” James E. Rooney, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, said during the event, according to the announcement. “If you’re an employer looking for talent, you can go look for one, or you can make an employee.”
The announcement was made at Quinsigamond Community College, where employers, Chapter 74 vocational school representatives and workforce development partners filled the room. Speakers included Rooney; Timothy P. Murray, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Mike Holland, director of workforce development strategy for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
State Sen. Michael Moore, a graduate of the college, also addressed attendees and highlighted legislation supporting workforce development and apprenticeship expansion.
“Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful economic development tools we have,” Murray said in the release. “When we invest in building talent locally, we strengthen our businesses, create opportunities for residents, and make our region more competitive. Workforce development isn’t separate from economic development, it is economic development.”
Rooney stressed that collaboration is central to the model. “That word ‘network’ is important,” he said during the event, according to the announcement. “It can’t just be community colleges. It’s about making sure employers have access to talent and that we’re creating a workforce for the 21st century.”
Attendees also heard from current apprentices, including Richard Gill of Tetra Medical in Framingham, who began a machining apprenticeship in June 2025 with no prior manufacturing experience.
“I was really green and really new,” Gill said, according to the release. Now training as a CNC Swiss Machinist Level 3, he described the paid training pathway as initially seeming too good to be true but ultimately transformative as he pursues engineering and science coursework while gaining hands-on experience.
By joining the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Network, the Worcester chamber will connect local employers with statewide partners, training providers and best practices for designing apprenticeship programs tailored to industry needs.
