Collaboration Rewarded

Collaboration rewarded!  Springfield WORKS leads local employers, educators, community leaders and jobseekers in developing innovative solutions so that together we can meet the economic needs of our residents and our local businesses.

A founding member in the Springfield WORKS collaboration, Springfield Partners for Community Action, just received a second $50,000 award from the Baker-Polito Community Services Block Grant Special Projects Fund to support Springfield WORKS financial wellness strategies.  Springfield Partners for Community Action Executive Director Paul Bailey said, “We are grateful to Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, and Undersecretary Jennifer Maddox for this award which will provide financial training and one-on-one coaching to low-income working families who are impacted by the “cliff effect.”  Cliff effects occur when wages do not make up for a family’s loss of public benefits, putting the family in a worse financial situation.   

This award comes on the heels of a recent $100,000 Baker-Polito Urban Agenda Grant to Springfield WORKS/Economic Development Council of Western Mass.  The funds will enable families to achieve economic stability as they navigate workforce development training into a career pathway.   Springfield WORKS project partners include HCS Head Start, Dress for Success of WMass, Springfield Partners for Community Action, EforAll, Educare Springfield, Springfield Public Schools, Holyoke Community College, STCC, Springfield College, Martin Luther King Jr. Center, and United Way of Pioneer Valley.  For more information, contact Springfield WORKS Director Anne Kandilis, Economic Development Council of Western Mass, a.kandilis@westernmassedc.com.