The city of Worcester was recently named one of just five cities to be awarded a $475,000 grant from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and its partners as part of the second round of the Working Cities Challenge in Massachusetts. Winning cities will receive three-year grants of $475,000 to carry out the initiatives they have developed through design grants awarded last fall.
Through this grant, Working Cities Worcester (WCW) will convene and inspire workers, employers, government, universities, nonprofits, and communities to create equitable short- and long-term employment opportunities in the local food service economy to uplift individuals and communities from poverty, with livable wages. The initiative will provide workforce training and career paths for disadvantaged workers in cooperation with local employers, increase career opportunities and operational support for ethnic food vendors and retailers in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and create a learning community to ensure workforce development is a strategic priority in the local food service economy as well as a key item on the economic policy agenda for the City of Worcester.
“Food service is a critical and growing segment of our economy, and this funding will allow us to support it with skilled labor, while providing good job opportunities for our residents,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus, Jr.
The WCW core team includes: Worcester Community Action Council, Inc., Clark University, Regional Environmental Council, Sodexo, Chartwells, City of Worcester, Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and the Latino Education Institute of Worcester State University.
We are Community Action – join us as we celebrate diversity as well as the heroes among us! Don’t miss out on upcoming deadlines to file applications for fuel assistance as well as summer job applications. Read more here.
Worcester Community Action Council recently hosted a thank you reception for its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program volunteers. This year’s group logged 620 volunteer hours, preparing a total of 895 returns (up over 710 returns prepared in 2014) and generating over $1.5 million dollars in refunds (up over the $1,060,100 generated in 2014). Special thanks to the team of volunteers from UNUM, pictured above with WCAC Board Chair and UNUM Senior VP Steve Joseph, which has been a strong supporter of the VITA program.
WCAC participates in the VITA program through the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition which works to promote free tax preparation services available to individuals and families who qualify. IRS-certified volunteers prepare taxes and specifically look for tax credits the household may be eligible for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and other credits. Some households with children are eligible for tax refunds of over $6,000. Utilizing the free tax preparation services allows families to retain their full refund, avoiding typical preparation fees which can often run into the hundreds of dollars.
A special thank you to Bank of America who is supporting WCAC’s YES (Youth Employment Seminar) program with a $6,000 grant. Pictured here are WCAC’s Executive Director Jill Dagilis, Job & Education Center Director Charla Hixson and Bank of America’s MJ Driscoll. YES offers small cohorts of disconnected youth soft skills, work and financial readiness training as well as case management and any required wrap around services required to get them job ready.
WCAC recently welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors. The new faces bring strong community connections, diverse skills to agency. Read full story here.
Southbridge Savings Bank’s Charitable Donations Committee recently announced the donation of $36,000 to Worcester Community Action Council to assist local residents with home heating costs. The bank is committing to a total of $4,000 to each community it serves. Read more here.
Learn about the volunteers at the heart of the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition, resources recently directed WCAC’s way to support various programs, as well as continued outreach for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Read more here.
As winters go, the winter of 2015-16 has, thus far, been a welcomed departure from the record setting snow fall and frigid temperatures endured last year. Despite the milder weather and decreases in the cost of home heating oil, Worcester Community Action Council knows there are families struggling and wants to ensure they know – help is available. Read more here.
WCAC is pleased to join Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc., (MassEdCO) in welcoming Massachusetts State Treasurer Deb Goldberg for a FREE Financial Literacy Summit: Financing a Postsecondary Education on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. Additional details and registration information available online. Download a flyer about the summit below.
WCAC is experiencing a significant impact to staffing capacity due to federal budget implications. However, demand for our services is growing.
As a result, we are strongly encouraging households that are either first-time applicants or returning clients to apply online using the online portal that opened on October 1st, 2025. https://www.toapply.org/WCAC. Returning applicants will need their account number and PIN to submit through the online portal. The 2025 PIN is located on the top of the green paper application that was mailed to you or by calling our customer service department at 508-796-2423.
