The Sunday Republican newspaper brings readers Outlook 2020, its annual economic development section with stories on local and regional schools, businesses and industries. Commentary from leaders is mixed with in-depth looks at how the Massachusetts economy and job outlook are changing.
The changes in technology, workforce demands and job creation can seem dizzying from a distance. In reality, this is an exciting time for Massachusetts, which has maintained its reputation for imagination and vision in industry since this state was a colony, more than 240 years ago.
The importance of education and jobs has never been more relevant to our region. As businesses look to grow and adapt to modern and contemporary methods, skilled workers are critical to help them succeed. As our region is rich with academic resources, developing partnerships with business and learning institutions is essential in creating a 21st century work environment that will encourage employers to make investments. And create success stories.
But to build a strong, skilled, relevant workforce you must start early.
The critical nature of early childhood education is now being realized. Investments are being made to create learning centers to reach children offering academic and social advantages before entering kindergarten and elementary school. Research shows that these methods work and are undisputed. Now, the ground-breaking, full-day, year-round Educare facility in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield is now buzzing with around 141 children. The $14.4 million facility, run by Head Start, was the vision and partnership of Suzie Buffet, daughter of Warren Buffet and The Irene E. & George A. Davis foundation. The land was donated by Springfield College.
High Schools are increasingly taking advantage of vocational programs offered by a regional collaborative that provides vocational space for training in carpentry, automotive, health care, culinary arts, machine technology and other disciplines. While the Career Technical Education Center has been around for 26 years, it has remained a viable and necessary resource to train high school students to compete in a modern workforce.
Colleges and Universities are addressing needs by giving students experience in research and development. The Core Facilities program at UMass, part of the Institute for Applied Life Sciences, help pair students and industry with facilities that offer a broad array of equipment to build on research on drug delivery technologies, healthcare devices, MRI technology and others.
As community colleges continue to assess what types of skills are needed for students to prosper, collaboration between schools and industry has never been stronger. Partnerships on programs such as health care, manufacturing and even the nascent cannabis and gaming industries are gaining ground.
The region also boasts its fair share of entrepreneurship and success stories. Kristin Anthony and Michael Bennion are the creators of LifeBooch Kombucha, a drink which is sort of a slightly tangy effervescent tea containing probiotics, B vitamins and macro nutrients. After searching for a certified space, the pair, originally for Utah, ended up in Holyoke. After outgrowing the Holyoke space they moved over to Easthampton and now have a 1,200- square foot custom built brewery. Anthony touts the program EforAll (Entrepreneurs for All) a non-profit in Lowell, that had a connection with the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce SPARK program. “Connecting with this community through EforAll was a great way to meet people,” Bennion said.
The mechanisms related to the vision of creating a modern, relevant workforce are turning.
It’s the job of our political, educational and business leaders to translate this vision into opportunities for average citizens of all ages - teenagers in school, ambitious collegians, skilled vocational workers and older employees who still contribute to our economy and society.
Outlook 2020 reflects an optimistic tone because there is reason for optimism in Massachusetts.
Our pages are dedicated to offering a comprehensive look at where we are heading in education, manufacturing, tourism, entertainment, banking and finance, health care and the many other areas that make up the diverse nature of our region. And showcasing the individuals, programs and businesses that are making it happen.
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February 09, 2020 at 04:00PM
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Outlook 2020: Education and jobs have never been more relevant to our region (Editorial) - MassLive.com
"jobs" - Google News
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