Cambridge holds public hearing on jobs-training trust as partners outline existing workforce programs

Cambridge City Council’s Economic Development and University Relations Committee convened a public hearing on a possible Cambridge Jobs Training Trust and on the city’s existing workforce-development programs, hearing hour-long presentations from city staff, the public schools and local nonprofit and institutional partners and two public commenters in favor of establishing a trust.

The hearing, led by Vice Mayor Alanna McGovern (committee chair), focused on how a Jobs Training Trust — a model that directs linkage fees or similar revenue to workforce training — might be structured and how it would add to services currently provided by the city, Cambridge Public Schools and community partners.

Why it matters: Committee members said the city needs to understand what it already funds and where gaps remain before deciding whether to add a new funding mechanism tied to development. Several presenters and public commenters described how Somerville’s and Boston’s linkage funds have been used to underwrite participant stipends, build pipelines and expand recruitment into training programs — uses councilors said Cambridge might want to replicate if the city moves forward.

City and school overview

Sue Walsh, assistant director for adult and family services, told the committee the presentation aimed to describe the “ecosystem” of services that supports low-income residents, residents of color and people disconnected from the labor market. The city’s levers, she said, include direct hiring, direct programs, partner convening and contracting or referral to community-based training providers.

David Murphy, interim superintendent of Cambridge Public Schools, said the district embeds career and college pathways from early childhood through high school and noted Rindge (RSTA) technical programs and cooperative education as key channels for students to connect to careers.

Programs and partners: what the committee heard

- Office of Workforce Development and Community Learning Center: Susan Mintz and other DHSP staff described an Office of Workforce Development that serves nearly 2,000 residents annually and a Community Learning Center…