Economic Sustainability and Workforce Opportunity

Dovetailing education and arts & culture is the need to remove obstacles and increase our community members’ success in the economic realm. Our work in this area is growing and currently involves immigration support, workforce development, and career readiness.

Here are highlights from 2021:

THE MAYFLOWER FUND

Mayflower Wind secured a state award to supply Massachusetts with offshore wind energy which in turn means a significant commitment to local workforce and economic development through their newly created fund with the Community Foundation. The company will devote $27 million over ten years to the Mayflower Fund, to build inclusive, equitable, and diverse employment, training, and supply chain opportunities related to the offshore wind industry. This exciting initiative is an opportunity for the South Coast to flourish and we are thrilled to be a partner to Mayflower Wind, providing a bridge to the communities the Foundation serves. “To truly succeed we need strong partnerships with organizations such as the SouthCoast Community Foundation, who truly understand the needs of the community, to ensure we are fostering a just transition toward a sustainable energy future.”

MICHAEL BROWN, CEO, MAYFLOWER WIND LLC

POLAROID FUND

The Polaroid Fund is dedicated to New Bedford workforce development and literacy programming, and awarded $97,000 to nine local nonprofits in April, including The Arc of Bristol County, Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts, Inc., Marion Institute, New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks!, Portuguese United for Education d/b/a Discovery Language Academy, School on Wheels, United Interfaith Action of Southeastern Massachusetts, and YWCA of Southeastern MA. “The Polaroid Grant enables us to make significant progress on our multiyear effort to improve the educational experience for all our students and increase access to good jobs and sustainable living in New Bedford. This includes our work with community leaders throughout the South Coast and in a statewide coalition to reverse the current, restrictive admissions policy of vocational schools so English learners, students of color, students with disabilities, and students that are economically disadvantaged have an equal opportunity to pursue this path of learning.”

ANDREA SHEPPARD LOMBA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNITED INTERFAITH ACTION OF SOUTHEASTERN MA.

WAITLIST: STATEWIDE OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS

STATEWIDE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ‘OPPORTUNITY GAP’ ANALYSIS. COURTESY OF GRANTEE, UNITED INTERFAITH ACTION OF SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS