Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 6, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 11 Experience a catered awakening. Peppers creates complete and extraordinary events, refl ecting your organization's unique vision and personality. • Talented teams in Culinary Arts, Cake Art, Art Bar, and Art & Design collaborating to craft a lasting impression. • Experience in meticulously planning, managing and executing events of every size and style with an eye on both the big picture and the smallest detail. • Dedicated craftsmanship and culinary talent that makes your event a true original and leaves your guests feeling part of something special. Contact our event specialists to create your one-of-a-kind occasion today. PeppersCatering.com 508.393.6844 Photo by Michael Brook Photography calls "ready to learn" certification. Those with Level 2 certification, or people who are "ready to earn," are also considered entry level and can work as machine operators and inspectors. At Levels 3-5, students are qualified for middle skills jobs as machine operators, quality assurance workers and supervi- sors, machinists and managers. Early success Today, MACWIC has more than 200 member companies, who represent a combined 27,000 employees and more than $8 billion in revenues, according to MassMEP. So far, 326 workers have reached Level 3 certification, and 93 percent of those people have jobs. The economic impact of those workers is estimated to be $181.8 million. "In general, [MACWIC] has had a significant impact on the availability of specifically skilled and credentialed tal- ent the employers need," said Ted Bauer, director of workforce develop- ment strategies at MassMEP. Solving the vocational equation Out of the commonwealth's vocation- al schools, 29 out of 33 follow the path- way and give students the opportunity to get certified at Levels 1 and 2, according to MassMEP. Last year, the Baker Administration dispensed $2.6 million in Workforce Skills Capital Grants to vocational high schools, community colleges and MassMEP. But vocational schools have long waiting lists and are increasingly attracting high-performing students who later go on to enroll in four-year colleges. According to a 2015 report from Northeastern University's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, almost 57 percent of students at vocational schools go on to postsecondary education, compared with 78 percent at traditional high schools. A 2012 report from the Dukakis Center predicted manufacturing employers will have to hire more than 100,000 replacement workers by 2022. Roping in traditional students That's where the Blackstone Valley program comes in, Lynskey said. "When military required many more officers than service academies could provide, they did not build four or six West Points points twice the size of Annapolis – they extended it to the reg- ular colleges with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). This is the same thing," he said. "[Graduates] will not be as well prepared as a student going to Blackstone Valley [Regional Technical High School] for manufac- turing. The problem is the need is going to be greater than the amount of graduates vocational educational pro- grams can produce." W

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