Federal Grant Supports Job Training for Laid-Off Starrett Employees

A federal grant will provide essential job training and support services to 78 employees who were laid off from the L.S. Starrett Co. in Athol, Massachusetts, on June 30, 2022. The layoffs, affecting a total of 179 workers across the company, were announced without specific reasons, impacting both recent hires and long-term employees.

On January 2, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor revealed it had awarded a grant of $551,195 to assist those affected by the layoffs. This funding will be managed through the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, aimed at supporting “dislocated workers seeking assistance in Franklin and Worcester counties.”

Grant Application and Local Impact

The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, located in Greenfield, applied for the grant in August 2022, initially seeking $420,000. In its application, MassHire described the layoffs as a “single mass dislocation event.” The abrupt job losses significantly disrupted the rural Athol-Orange labor market, which comprises only 9,480 workers.

Maura Geary, co-executive director of the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, expressed her satisfaction with the funding award, stating, “We were thrilled to learn that this funding has been awarded, and we are in communication with the [MassHire] Department of Career Services to determine next steps and a timeline for implementation.”

According to the grant application, the local unemployment rate rose from 3.9% to approximately 4.7% following the layoffs. This increase comes at a time when the area is already grappling with high poverty rates—18.1% in Athol and 22% in Orange—and a low level of educational attainment, with only 13-22% of residents holding bachelor’s degrees.

Program Goals and Services Offered

The grant aims to assist 30 former employees of L.S. Starrett over a performance period of 36 months. The program will provide career training and supportive services designed to facilitate rapid reemployment and promote long-term economic stability.

Services outlined in the program include skills assessments, labor market guidance, Individual Employment Plans, and job readiness workshops. These workshops will focus on resume development, interview preparation, and enhancing digital literacy. Additionally, participants will receive occupational training for roles in advanced manufacturing, health care, clean energy, and transportation.

To further support participants, the program will offer transportation vouchers, child care stipends, certification and licensing fees, as well as work-related tools or uniforms. These resources aim to eliminate barriers to participation in the workforce.

MassHire is committed to achieving unsubsidized job placements for at least 24 participants in high-demand sectors. The initiative also seeks to strengthen regional workforce capacity through expanded partnerships with local employers.

This federal investment not only addresses the immediate needs of those affected by the layoffs but also aims to foster a more resilient labor market in the region, ultimately benefiting the community as a whole.