The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board (BWB), in partnership with our Chief Elected Official, Mayor Peter Marchetti of Pittsfield, is required to prepare a Fiscal Year 2027 Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act Plan for Berkshire County for submission to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. This planning document articulates the region’s priorities and workforce development strategies and revisits the broad scope of how the Workforce Investment Act system will be coordinated with other systems providing employment and training services to improve services for both job seekers and employers.

For FY27, the MassHire Department of Career Services issued Policy 100DCS 04.117 local annual plan guidance, which includes allocations, program summaries, budgeting, and alignment with MassHire Innovation Project (MIP). Our plan includes the following:

  1. Expanding Accessibility & Inclusive Service Delivery
  2. Strengthening Operational Efficiency & Addressing Funding Gaps
  3. Advancing Youth Service Strategies
  4. Preparing for Implementation of the Workforce Pell Grant Program
  5. Enhancing Business Services Capacity
  6. Improving Customer Experience

Planning for WIOA will be coordinated with other systems providing employment and training services to improve services for both job seekers and employers.  Our region’s workforce development priorities continue to have an emphasis on alignment with BWB goals and initiatives; alignment of program design with local labor market trends to create a demand-driven system; developing career pathways and industry sector strategies; continuous improvement of the One-Stop Career Center system as the primary vehicle for delivering services; integration of WIOA and non-WIOA systems and programs to enhance services for job seekers and employers; minimizing duplication; and improving performance and accountability. The local plan will include performance and participant planning forms and the budget for how funds will be allocated.  The comprehensive plan can be found after September 11, 2026 on the BWB website www.MassHireBerkshire.com.

The Chief Elected Official and the BWB are seeking public comment on the proposed draft plan. Interested parties may submit written comments regarding this document to the BWB by September 10, 2026 in order to be included with the plan.

All questions or comments should be directed to Heather Boulger at Heather@MassHireBerkshire.com.