This new partnership more closely connects career center clients with the academic programs that Northern Essex offers and provides resources that help NECC with its career development initiatives.
NECC was selected last summer by the Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board to assume management and operational responsibilities for ValleyWorks, which is one of 16 regional employment centers across the state.
The center has locations in Haverhill and Lawrence and serves more than 10,000 job seekers and 700 employers each year. It provides employment and training services for youth, unemployed and under-employed adults, and laid-off workers. It also provides recruitment and incumbent worker training for local companies. Funding for the center, currently $2 million per year, is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which provides resources to states and local workforce investment boards.
The centers are managed by NECC’s Center for Corporate and Community Education, led by executive director George Moriarty, who has previous experience with Career Centers as well as the state’s Office of Labor and Workforce Development. Moriarty is uniquely positioned to build on the organizational strengths of the college and the center in order to better serve residents of the Merrimack Valley.
ValleyWorks employs approximately 26 staff members. Northern Essex will soon open a location in downtown Haverhill, but until then will continue to operate a satellite location on NECC’s Haverhill campus, 100 Elliott St. there is also a full-service center at 255 Essex St, Lawrence.
ValleyWorks serves 15 cities and towns across the region: Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Georgetown, Merrimack, Amesbury, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Boxford, and Groveland.
