MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board Early Childhood Educator Grant

11:53AM / Thursday, December 18, 2025Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $1.8 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to eight organizations to train and place more than 300 apprentices in early childhood education careers across the state.

"Our administration has been committed to expanding the Registered Apprenticeship model into industries like early childhood education so we can strength the talent pipeline," said Governor Maura Healey. "Through the GROW grants, we're creating real pathways for educators to learn, earn and advance their careers, while helping providers attract and retain the talent they need. These investments are building a strong early education system, and in turn, a more competitive Massachusetts."

In Berkshire County, MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board was awarded $198,375 to register a new early childhood education registered apprenticeship and enroll 3 cohorts of 10 apprentices in identified childcare desert of Berkshire County over three years.

In September, Massachusetts was awarded $5 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to partner with employers with the goal of rapidly scaling early childhood education Registered Apprenticeship Programs and creating a Technical Assistance Hub for early childhood education apprenticeships.

Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience including classroom instruction and on-the-job training combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility and advancement.

Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones made the announcement at the YMCA of Greater Boston's Chinatown location. Among grantees, the YMCA Greater Boston received $300,000 to enroll 50 early childhood educator apprentices throughout Greater Boston as well as working with the Alliance of YMCAs to expand into childcare deserts where at least 10 apprentices will be placed.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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