QCC Receives $143K Direct Access Grant – Small Businesses to Benefit

Quinsigamond Community College’s Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education has been awarded a $143,000 Direct Access Grant from the Workforce Training Fund. QCC’s grant is part of $2.98 million in Small Business Direct Access Program grants awarded to qualified training organizations by the Commonwealth Corporation, a state agency that fosters partnerships between industry, education and workforce organizations.

The Small Business Direct Access Program addresses the training needs of small businesses by offering free training to eligible businesses. The state grant was recently redesigned for businesses with no more than 100 employees, in order to help them remain competitive in today’s marketplace. This is the first time QCC has been awarded a Direct Access Grant. The college will offer a training program to eligible businesses that includes: critical workplace skills such as listening, collaborating with others, presenting ideas, and communicating with team members.  These topics were chosen due to the overwhelming need that was expressed by businesses in the region.

“These skills are not only highly valued in today’s marketplace, they are necessary if the business and the individual are to succeed,” said Dean of the Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Kathleen Manning. “Strong soft skills ensure a productive, collaborative, healthy and effective work environment, key attributes for organizations in an increasingly competitive, global world.”

Companies that are eligible for these types of grants must pay into the Unemployment Fund, which allocates money into the Workforce Training Fund administered by Commonwealth Corporation and hold a Certificate of Good Standing that is issued from the Commonwealth.

QCC will begin offering six workshops, “Essential Soft Skills in the Workplace” beginning in April 2019.  The six workshops include:

• Essential Business Skills
• Communicating with Clarity and Impact
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Time Management
• Presenting with Impact
• Conflict Resolution

There will be four series offered in spring 2019, fall 2019, spring 2020 and fall 2020. Each workshop will enroll between 12-15 participants and be offered throughout the Central Massachusetts region.  Workshops are currently scheduled at QCC’s Healthcare and Workforce Development Center location on 25 Federal Street, Worcester; QCC Southbridge, 5 Optical Drive, Southbridge, and Courtyard by Marriott in Marlborough, 75 Felton Street, Marlborough.

To learn more, call QCC Program Specialist Christine McNally at 508.751.7929 or email her at cmcnally [at] qcc.mass.edu