Tech Bridge program launches in Springfield to fill WMass jobs gap
CHICOPEE — When Michael Tremble thinks about what stands in the way of expanding his third-generation business — Valley Communications Systems — hiring enough talented people is near the top of his list.
When his grandmother, Rita Tremble, founded the company 80 years ago, adding sound to movies was the talk of the town.
The complex audio-visual systems Valley Communications sells and services now are wireless, connected to the internet, think independently and "speak" to each other.
"We need higher, technically skilled individuals to work alongside our installers and engineers," Tremble told The Republican. "We're looking for people with this convergence of AV and information technology, people with IT literacy and clarity."
Lian Duan, director of strategic initiatives.Staasi Heropoulos
Tremble isn't the only executive finding local talent pools are running dry.
Others trying to fill full-time, permanent, high-tech positions are forced to look outside the area to New York City and Boston, said Tricia Canavan, CEO of Tech Foundry in Springfield.
Desperate to fill roles, some local employers are even settling for contractors who agree to work remotely, she added.
Canavan and her team have taken a closer look at the region and found an untapped resource for executives like Tremble. This fall, Tech Foundry is launching Tech Bridge, a 9-month, free training program for recent (2022-2025) high school graduates from Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee who are not sure what to do next.
"A very large percentage of our high school graduates do not have a firm plan — full-time college, military, apprenticeship, trades. Working a part-time job in retail or whatever is not a firm plan. There's no firm pathway to a living wage that comes from that type of job," she said.
Without a concrete plan, Canavan said many of these grads face a troubled future.
"They are at a very high risk of poor outcomes. They are five times more likely to become criminally justice involved, three times as likely to live in poverty and twice as likely to experience mental health challenges compared to their peers who have robust work and community involvement," she said.
Keshia Maxwell, Tech Bridge director. (Staasi Heropoulos)Staasi Heropoulos
Free tuition and supplies
Tech Foundry is actively recruiting around 18 students for Tech Bridge. The program and its supplies are free to students who are accepted. The operating costs — about $15,000 per student— are between $250,000 and $300,000 in all and are covered by private grants.
Students will receive classroom and hands-on training in IT, audio/video, camera systems, lighting and a range of related subjects.
Lian Duan, director of strategic initiatives, has developed Tech Bridge's curriculum, based on research she conducted with dozens of local employers, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and firms that will certify graduates.
Duan said she believes Tech Bridge graduates will be exactly what local employers want.
"Because of the urgent hiring needs, students with solid training, the correct credentials and hands-on experience can progress quickly into a position, even a managerial position within a couple of years. This is tremendous for students who just graduated from high school," she said.
Jordan Bedford, 24, of Chicopee dropped out of the eighth grade when he was 16.
"I was confused in what I wanted to do. I was working dead-end jobs through warehouses and stuff like that — just trying to figure out where I fit in," he told The Republican.
Bedford recently earned his HiSET high school equivalency through the Valley Opportunity Council. With a fiancee and their two toddlers, he is relieved Tech Bridge accepted him.
"I have a strong fascination with technology," he said. "I'm very excited. It's a great opportunity and I can't wait to experience it. I hope to get a great career out of it," he said.
Tech Bridge has a number of local business partners that are hosting field trips in which students can see first-hand what they would do if they held a high-tech job. The businesses are also offering potential employment to future graduates. Tech Bridge plans to help with the job search.
Students will also learn what it's like to serve their communities. Through partnerships with local, nonprofit organizations, the graduates will perform service activities.
"A major aspect of Tech Bridge is going to be social and emotional learning," said Keshia Maxwell, Tech Bridge director.
"People need a place other than home, work or school. We want to be the third place where students come and feel they have connections. They feel like they're supported, and emotionally and psychologically safe," she said.
When students leave Tech Bridge, Maxwell said they will receive several certifications needed when applying for jobs. Anyone choosing to pursue higher education will also have a head start, she said, because they will have earned college and university credits.
Obstacle to growth
Meantime, Valley Communications has grown to 90 employees — and 60% of them need that level of expertise. Tremble, the company's leader, is trying to fill six positions and is having a hard time finding qualified candidates in Western Massachusetts.
"If the skill set and people we need to fill those positions exist here, we're not doing a good job of finding them," he said. "Talent exists everywhere, but Western Mass. can be an area where it's difficult to attract talent. Without those people, we can't grow."
Tech Bridge classes are scheduled to start Sept. 2. For more information, email techbridge@thetechfoundry.org or call 413-276-0609.
Read the original article on MassLive .
