Career Center officially reopens
LEOMINSTER » Local and state officials and members of the area business community attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at the MassHire North Central Career Center at 100 Erdman Way to celebrate the grand reopening of the center following a comprehensive renovation that includes technology updates.
“It is almost like coming out of the pandemic with a brand-new service,” said MassHire North Central Workforce Board Executive Director Jeff Roberge. “A lot of people need to get back to work and now we have the opportunity to provide people with all kinds of workforce training.”
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta joined Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale, Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, state Sen. John Cronin, D-Lunenburg, state Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster, At-large Leominster School Committee member Brandon Robbins, and representatives from several area chambers of commerce to celebrate the fully renovated facility that is ready to serve the area. In addition, stu
dents from Leominster High School’s CTEi Culinary Arts program prepared a spread of appetizers and desserts for attendees to enjoy.
Roberge said they were excited to unveil the renovations.
“We completely redesigned the space, from top to bottom,” he said.
Roberge said they worked with the landlord after signing a 10-year lease to come up with a
plan for the revamp of the space that had not been updated in two decades.
“We explained what we wanted, which was to upgrade the facility and make this a safer environment,” he said. “We want it to be a place where people feel comfortable, and they can have a private conversation with our career counselors.”
Roberge said that besides the furniture and
‘When people come in looking for work, they can be intimidated, scared, mad, embarrassed,” Roberge said. “We wanted a place where people can come and feel comfortable.
layout, they upgraded the computer system, wiring, security cameras, technology and more.
“It is completely state of the art,” he said. “We can offer in person and virtual trainings and workshops, broadcast our trainings, and so much more.”
Roberge said the landlord also worked with them to spread out the cost of the renovation and upgrade over the span of the lease.
“It was basically like taking out a home equity line,” he said.
While the career center never shut down during the pandemic, the 15 career counselors on staff worked remotely for some of it, which Roberge said was “the perfect time” to work on the renovations from March to September with minimal staff on site.
The career center offers services free of charge to anyone looking for a job, new career, training and more.
“When people come in looking for work, they can
– MassHire North Central Workforce Board Executive Director Jeff Roberge
be intimidated, scared, mad, embarrassed,” Roberge said. “We wanted a place where people can come and feel comfortable.”
He said prior to the renovations the center was a big open room with some cubicles in it and as such, it was not very welcoming, and that the reaction to the update has been very positive.
“We now have a brand
new space with access to all kinds of training in multiple formats,” he said. “It is a professional space that is also warm and inviting.”
MassHire North Central Career Center reopened to the public on Oct. 4 and the hours are Monday
through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 978-534-1481, visit https:// masshirenorthcentralcc.com/ or follow MassHire North Central Career Center on Facebook and Instagram.