WORCESTER—Spectrum has added $30,000 to its ongoing support of the Worcester Community Action Council’s workforce development program, a move aimed at expanding job training resources for local residents.
The announcement, made Wednesday at WCAC’s Chestnut Street center, marks the latest step in a partnership that began in September 2023. Since then, Spectrum employees and volunteers have helped improve the facility, and the company has donated 50 laptops and free high-speed internet to support the center’s technology and training initiatives.
“We are grateful for this continued partnership with Spectrum and the ongoing support that has strengthened the mission of WCAC’s Job and Education Center,” said Patti Ovalles, the center’s director. “This support gives us the flexibility to provide person-centered career and economic coaching, along with workshops that help the youth we serve build work-readiness and soft skills while developing a strong sense of professional identity.”
Rahman Khan, group vice president of community impact for Charter Communications, which operates the Spectrum brand, said the long-term collaboration is helping residents gain skills and updated facilities to improve their economic standing. “Already thousands of people around the country have participated in SCCA in the neighborhoods we serve, including the Worcester Community Action Council as they provide essential job training in a safe and revitalized space,” Khan said.
Mayor Joe Petty highlighted the impact of the additional funding on the city. “The Worcester Community Action Council is a vital resource for many in the Worcester community,” he said. “The additional grant from Spectrum will help support its mission by improving workforce development, offering the necessary resources and opportunities for individuals to succeed.”
WCAC serves more than 10,000 people annually. Since the partnership began, the center has provided 778 people with job training, helped 42 obtain credentials, and assisted 130 in securing employment and connecting to other essential services. Spectrum has contributed a total of $80,000 in grant funding and more than $40,000 in facility improvements.
