The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has given MassHire Springfield Career Center $40,000 as part of its Stabilization Grant Program. The funding is designed to support nonprofit organizations that are recovering from the COVID-19 health crisis and its economic impact. Grants were awarded to organizations that clearly demonstrated financial need due to impacts of the COVID-19 virus.
The career center will use the funding to offset expenses stemming from the transition to virtual services and the resulting technology needed to continue this ongoing process. MassHire Springfield Career Center Executive Director, Kevin Lynn says they are fortunate to get the grant, “We are very appreciative of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ timely help as it comes in a period of budgetary uncertainty and unanticipated virus related costs.” The money will also provide much needed support in dealing with COVID mitigation costs, including barriers, signage, sanitizers and cleaning supplies. MassHire Springfield’s goal is to continue to serve the general public with a continued focus on our low income members who have been particulary hard hit by layoffs and business closures.
To be considered, organizations must have been operating as a 501(c)(3) organization or an established fiscal sponsorship arrangement for at least two years. Funding was only to be provided to organizations located and serving residents in Hampden, Hampshire and/or Franklin counties. Among the organizations given preference were those providing pathways to employment in workforce development and those actively serving vulnerable populations.