WORCESTER—A career shift from marketing to metalwork. A stroke survivor turned certified pharmacy technician. A former seasonal laborer now running a machine engine full-time. These are just a few of the stories coming out of the FY24 Worcester Jobs Fund report, which the city council enthusiastically accepted Tuesday night, but had several questions and concerns about it, too.
“There’s some good news,” Councilor and Vice Chair Khrystian King said. “It’s changing people’s perspectives. It’s changing their self-image.”
Submitted by City Manager Eric Batista and Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn, the report details a year of strong outcomes for the city’s flagship workforce development initiative. Aimed at connecting residents—especially those from marginalized communities—with career-track jobs, the fund enrolled 84 low-income individuals across seven training programs last year.
Of those participants, 84% were people of color and 58% were women. The average wage of program graduates jumped to $25.29 an hour, nearly $8 more than the prior year, according to the report.
But perhaps most striking is the financial efficiency: the program returned an estimated 878% on the city’s investment.
That kind of ROI got the attention of both city leaders and community advocates.
“The city is doing a well [sic] job in terms of trying to create opportunities for young people in municipal work,” said Batista. He acknowledged that, while some state-funded programs such as YouthWorks had faced level funding—and thus tighter constraints—the city’s commitment to youth job opportunities remains firm. “We’re going to stay stable in those departments,” he assured.
The Jobs Fund, supported by a $200,000 annual city tax levy and additional state and private grants, trained participants in fields ranging from building trades and CDL driving to medical assisting and pharmacy tech. Case management and job placement services were provided through a partnership with MassHire Central.
Among the standout training programs:
- School bus driver training: 40 enrollees, 14 now driving for Worcester Public Schools at $33/hour
- Building pathways pre-apprenticeship: 10 participants, 8 now employed—including one woman who left marketing for a union apprenticeship with a projected compensation of nearly $78/hour in four years
- Clinical medical assistant program: 16 trained, 10 certified, many now employed by local healthcare providers like UMass Memorial
District 4 City Councilor Luis Ojeda pushed for ensuring these early jobs help build long-term momentum. “Back when I was a kid I couldn’t get a job because I didn’t have experience,” he said. “But I needed a job to get experience. We should help them add this to their résumés.”
King stuck for a little while on “the lost years”—those middle school ages where kids often fall through the cracks. Batista highlighted the city’s mentorship program for youth ages 13 to 15, part of REC Worcester, that offers not just experience but pay and coaching.
Worcester’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. The Jobs Fund received the 2024 Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Gamechanger Award for its impact.
“There’s more work to be done, but we are moving forward,” said King.
In the same meeting, city leaders approved a resolution to apply for, accept, and expend up to $50,000 from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to bolster the city’s Park Steward Program.
The grant, which is funneled through Massport’s Community Summer Jobs Program, allows the city to employ up to 30 local youths for a minimum of seven weeks during the summer—offering seasonal jobs that also support public spaces.
Launched in 2010, the Park Steward Program is a partnership between the city’s Department of Public Works and Parks and neighborhood organizations. Teens in the program take on everything from trash pickup and landscaping to graffiti removal and tree planting—building community pride while gaining hands-on experience.
In summer 2024, the program employed 28 teens across seven municipal parks. The new grant ensures the program continues to grow in reach and impact. Matching funds will be covered by the city’s general operating budget.
While the Jobs Fund focuses on long-term, career-track jobs, the Park Steward Program targets younger residents just entering the workforce—a one-two punch aimed at making sure Worcester’s youth don’t just find work, but find footing.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
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