Westford School To Help Train Workers Who Lost Jobs Amid Pandemic

WESTFORD, MA — A local high school is helping to give free training to people who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic and want to get into the plumbing or automotive services industries, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the governor's office.

"Our goal is to help fill the pipeline with skilled workers who can contribute to the Massachusetts economy and provide a more stable career path for themselves and their families," Nashoba Valley Technical High School's Director of Postsecondary, Continuing & Community Education Jobee O’Sullivan said.

Nashoba Valley Technical High School is one of eight schools — and the only one in the Greater Lowell area — to receive Career Technical Initiative grants from Gov. Charlie Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet amounting to $1.3 million.

Nashoba Tech will use the money to provide training and placement services to prepare unemployed and underemployed adults for positions as automotive technicians and plumbers through the school’s Career Technical Institute.

The school will be able to provide free training for those who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to O’Sullivan.

"Our 200-hour adult training program provides the hands-on and theory skills necessary for entry-level employment in plumbing and automotive services," she said.

Candidates must first be deemed eligible by a MassHire Career Center, then complete the school's enrollment paperwork.

Both programs will be taught by certified instructors, and at the end of the course will offer some help getting started finding jobs, according to the school.

Plumbing classes are set to start March 1 and last through May 14. The automotive services class is scheduled to start March 16 and go through May 22. Graduates of the classes will come out with either a Plumbing Tier 1 hours and OSHA 10 Construction Safety credentials or OSHA 10 Automotive Safety, Valvoline, WD-40, Advance Auto Parts, and Automotive Services Excellence, or ASE, certifications.

For more information on either course, call 978-692-4711, ext. 11157.