The City of Lynn is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to
develop a Workforce Development Plan that will support the existing workforce within the City and growing industries in the region.
The goal is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the City’s workforce and the regional labor market in order to create pathways for employment in industries targeted for growth. The City is also interested in better understanding and developing solutions to the barriers Lynn residents face related to employment access and advancement. Among the barriers that have been identified include lack of access to childcare and transportation, English fluency, and immigrants’ non-transferrable credentials.
The Workforce Development Plan Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the following organizations: MassHire North Shore, Lynn Vocational Technical Institute/Lynn Public Schools, North Shore Community College, North Shore Latino Business Association, EforAll/EparaTodos, Lynn Community Health Center, Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce, North Shore Labor Council/E-Team Machinist Program, New Lynn Coalition – Lynn Community Enrichment Program, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, Lynn Economic Opportunity (LEO), and Pathways.
The plan will link local workforce development resources and the regional labor market, identify goals and actions the City and partners can take to facilitate workforce development, and prepare residents to take advantage of opportunities for career advancement.
As part of this plan, the City aims to provide accessible and equitable opportunities to existing workers, particularly individuals earning lower wages and immigrants/non-native English speakers, as well as young adults (ages 14-26) to enter priority industries. The priority industries in the Workforce Development Plan include health care, technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, construction, education, and life sciences.
“The city’s Workforce Development Plan will ensure that all Lynn residents, no matter their background, are provided the tools necessary to thrive and be a part of our city’s growth and future,” said Mayor Jared Nicholson. “The plan will support our workers and connect them with employment and education opportunities and job training that will leave a lasting impact. We have a great team committed to this mission.”
The planning process began late last year and is expected to conclude this summer. It is being supported with $35,000 from the MAPC Technical Assistance Program and $20,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
“As chair of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee for the Lynn City Council and council liaison for ARPA, we are excited to see so many partners working towards our goal of providing career training and opportunities for so many members of our community,” said Councilor Brian Field. “We are again seeing how the ARPA funding has directly helped those that were affected the most. The workforce changed a great deal over the past few years and we need to keep up with those changes. We will continue to work closely with the mayor’s office and all involved as we move forward.”
“Lynn is the largest city on the North Shore and its residents are a critical part of the North Shore workforce. As our economy strengthens and the labor shortage continues, Lynn civic and community leaders are developing a plan that will ensure a continued flow of trained workers to Lynn and North Shore companies,” said Mary Sarris, a member of the Workforce Development Plan Steering Committee. “Lynn is fortunate to have educational institutions like North Shore Community College and Lynn Vocational Technical Institute right within its borders, as well as Salem State University just a few miles away. Opportunities to learn skills and gain credentials at these institutions that lead to career pathways with high-wage opportunities are with us now and will continue to grow. Hopefully, all Lynners will take advantage of these opportunities for their benefit and for the benefit of our local and regional economy.”
On March 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lynn Museum, BioConnects New England and the City of Lynn will host an inaugural Community Leadership Summit as part of its life sciences workforce efforts. This event aims to engage with local leaders, stakeholders, and community groups on how best to share information about the biotech industry, biomanufacturing, and the opportunities available to residents, regardless of degree or professional experience. Attendees will learn more about the biotech readiness of the City of Lynn, pathways to careers in the life sciences, and hear presentations by Mayor Nicholson, Jared Auclair of BioConnects New England/Northeastern University, and Christine Bolzan of Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI). This event in Lynn is the first in a series of community leadership events BioConnects New England has planned across the region.
