Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board

Connecting Employers and Job Seekers
employment - education - training

The Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board is a business-led, policy-setting board that oversees workforce development initiatives in the ten-community region stretching from Dartmouth to Wareham, MA. Appointed by New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, the Board is composed of business, civic, education, labor, and community leaders.

Established under federal law, the Board's Chairman is a member of the private sector. The current Chairman is Charles R. Simpson, President and CEO, First Citizens' Federal Credit Union in Fairhaven. Vice-Chairman is David DeJesus, Jr., VP Human Resources, Southcoast Hospitals Group, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.

The Board employs a staff of full-time professionals and maintains offices in New Bedford. The Board itself consists entirely of volunteers.

All of the Board's meetings are open to the public.

227 Union Street, Suite 206, New Bedford, MA 02740-5946
PH 508.979.1504 • FAX 508.979.5680
Visit us on the web at: http://www.gnbwib.org

Published on 03/31/2010

The Elevate America program announced today by Governor Patrick provides vouchers for free courses in Microsoft software programs from the local One Stop Career Centers to all MA residents except state employees and public workforce system employees, both state and private. Our Career Centers in partnership with the Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board are excited to be able to provide these vouchers. Brenda Francis, Director of the Career Centers, indicated, “What a great opportunity for all citizens but especially our unemployed and our youth who can use this free training to improve their computer skills and better compete for future employment”.

The Career Centers are located in New Bedford at 618 Acushnet Avenue, in Wareham at 48 Marion Road, and for youth in the New Bedford Area at the Youth Annex, 5 Dover Street. Full details on available courses and necessary computer configuration are also available at the Career Centers.

The online courses are accessed via the internet, customers have a full year to complete them, and passing of the course exam results in Microsoft Certification. For those that do not have access to computers, a limited number are available for use at the Career Centers. For more information contact the Career Centers: New Bedford at 508-990-4000 and Wareham at 508-291-7062, and the Youth Annex 508-979-1700.