It's a summer tradition in Lowell that hundreds of young adults find employment through the Career Center's Summer Work Experience program. For years this program has offered young adults their first taste of employment and, of course, that first paycheck. If you see a young adult wearing a neon orange shirt in Lowell summer, chances are they are one of ours.

In other news, our ARPA Skills Center is up and running. Offering technical training and job search assistance, this program is designed to raise the skill levels of Lowell residents who are under or unemployed.

Finally, despite some resistance, we did manage to get staff pictures posted on our website recently. We have a great staff here and as you will see below, we are seeking to add several new career advisors.

Have a great summer everyone.

Shannon Norton Calles

Executive Director

MassHire Lowell Career Center

The ARPA Skills Center is up and running. With 48 individuals already enrolled in training, we are expecting this program to be a huge benefit to residents of Lowell.

Designed for Lowell residents who are under or unemployed, this program offers training in Microsoft Office Certification, QuickBooks Certification, and Digital Literacy. These training programs are offered to residents to assist in building new skills and new employment opportunities.

The Skills Center will not be the only component of our ARPA programming. Coming soon will be the employer-focused Lowell Hires and the Young Adult Workforce Corps.

Learn more

In July, Lauren E. Jones, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, visited the MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board. Jones came to Lowell to announce the $2.5 million grant to 14 organizations to assist former inmates to re-enter society and the workforce. Two Lowell organizations receiving funds included the MassHire Greater Lowell Workforce Board and the Bridge Club of Greater Lowell.

This was Jones's first visit to the area as Secretary. In addition to recognizing all the organizations receiving funds, she also toured the MassHire Lowell Career Center and the Young Adult Career Center.

See the Video

Our summer work experience program is in full swing with 41 young people taking part in a paid service learning project to benefit the Greater Lowell Community and 229 young people working at over 45 different worksite locations for a total summer enrollment number of 270 young adults between 14 and 25 years of age.

Participants enrolled in the summer programming are making between $15.00 and $18.75 per hour while learning soft skills in work readiness classes facilitated by the Young Adult Career Center and getting hands-on work experience. 

Sometimes it's challenging to match a name with the face. It can be especially difficult with 38 staff members at the MassHire Lowell Career Center and another nine at the Young Adult Career Center. We've made it a little easier for our friends to recognize us. Check out our staff pictures on our website, maybe you'll find someone you know.

• See the Career Center staff
• See the Young Adult Career Center staff

We are currently recruiting over 200 individuals to fill seats in one of 12 training opportunities starting this fall. These training opportunities are a great path to start a new career.

Learn how Denise used MassHire Lowell Career Center services to start a new career.

How did we do? The fiscal year 2023 is over. Here are some of our numbers: