October 14, 2010
BOSTON - State Representative Jen Benson joined Joanne Goldstein, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, to announce an employment partnership grant at Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School today. The $141,015 grant will be used to expand Minuteman's Adult Biomanufacturing Certificate program.
Benson and Goldstein joined human resources directors from local biomanufacturing companies and representatives from the Career Place in Woburn to tour the school's facilities and meet with the adult students currently enrolled in the certificate program. An advisory council from the biomanufacturing industry assists in creating the curriculum for the program to ensure the skills learned in school are the skills needed to get a job in the field. This close partnership with industry leaders has greatly increased the demand for graduates of the program.
"This is an incredible program that exemplifies the important connection between our public schools and the private business sector," said Benson. "The grant will allow more adults to train and find employment in the evolving and expanding field of biomanufacturing."
The Adult Biomanufacturing Certificate Program began after assessing the needs of new companies in the area who were experiencing a shortage of entry-level technicians. The previously exclusive evening program will now, with the use of the grant, expand to a daytime program to facilitate the training of larger numbers of students. Past and present Biomanufacturing Certificate Program students have secured positions with biotechnology companies throughout the greater Boston and Worcester area.
"We need to continue to look for ways to create jobs in Massachusetts," said Benson. "But we also need to continue to support public education and workforce training to allow Massachusetts workers to fill the high skill positions that are already available."
