Holyoke Community College Lands $300,000 RISE Grant

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) received a $300,000 state grant to train low-income job seekers whose primary barrier to employment is their English language skills.

The Readiness, Integration, Skills, and Employment (RISE) grant to HCC is part of a $2.7 million package awarded recently to eight employers and organizations for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) initiatives that also include career readiness, job training, and placement services.

The RISE grants are funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and administered by Commonwealth Corp. through the state’s Workforce Competitive Trust Fund. HCC was one of only two grant recipients outside the Boston area. Greenfield Community College received a $195,000 grant to train home health aides.

Overall, the grants will support the training of more than 500 residents in the state in workforce ESOL training programs and help ease the demand for ESOL services.

“We know that language is a significant barrier to employment, which is why we have focused on connecting workers with the English and skills training they need to succeed in today’s economy,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These awards will help prepare our residents to fill open roles in one of our high-demand fields.”

HCC is partnering with three Springfield-based agencies — Way Finders, Tech Foundry, and MassHire Springfield — to provide training and career placement services for 50 individuals. HCC’s employer partners include Baystate Health, Holyoke Medical Center, Adhesive Applications, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, and MGM Springfield, who have agreed to interview program participants.

Originally, the grant focused on people living in emergency shelters but has been expanded to also include other low-income job seekers with children below age 18.

“It’s focused on individuals who need ESOL language development, but who also might be facing barriers like inadequate housing — that’s why we’re partnering with Way Finders; or digital literacy — that’s why we’re partnering with Tech Foundry; or basic awareness about how to apply for a job — that’s why we’re partnering with MassHire,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, HCC’s assistant vice president of Adult Education and Workforce Development.

Participants will also be connected to support services that address other basic needs, such as childcare and food insecurity.

“What’s innovative about this program is that we’re taking a cohesive approach to provide services that might typically be done sequentially, like, let’s first get you into stable housing and then get you into an English class, and then start thinking about a career,” Dunkelberg added. “Now we’re trying to do that in a more integrated way to accelerate people’s ability to get into jobs.”

HCC is now recruiting for the program, which is expected to begin by the end of October. The program will include three cycles of 12-week classes over a year and a half, with both in-person and self-paced online components.

“The curriculum is designed so that people can repeat a cycle or move up into a higher level of English and continue on. We will also be educating students about other industry-specific training opportunities we offer and jobs that are out there,” Dunkelberg explained. “One possible outcome is that they might go on to do culinary training or clean energy training or healthcare training. For others, it might be getting an entry-level position at Baystate Health or MGM.”