Latest news with #SkilledTradesFair
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds of students attend Skilled Trades Fair in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The demand for skilled trade professionals is higher than ever, as industries evolve and technology advances. With there being a high demand for trade workers, more students are taking an interest. The Skilled Trades Fair gave them a chance to talk to professionals and get a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in a trade. Springfield Police continue crackdown at Union Station, resulting in drug seizure and several arrests A growing demand for skilled workers lingers amongst industries like construction, electrical, automotive, and healthcare. Over 200 students across the region came out to the fair run by River East School to Career to learn about these hands-on careers, as most students are choosing trades for stability, career growth, and competitive wages. 'Just trying to see what there is for CDLs and stuff, try to get in quick,' said Jacoby Labillois, a student at Quabog Regional School District. 'Coming out of high school to know what I'm doing and get some money quick.' At the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, nearly 50 local and regional businesses, trade schools, and unions attended the fair. This fair allowed students to learn from industry leaders and get advice on how to succeed in a trades field. 'I met one guy who just started like working at my age,' said Davut Alioglu, a student at West Springfield High School. 'He opened his own business when he was like 18, and how he became in a good position. Now he's like CEO of a company and he was standing there and he was trying to help me out. That's what I like.' They also got to learn about apprenticeships, community colleges and technical institutes. 'I'm trying to go the cheapest way so I don't get into student debt, and here showed me a lot of different options,' said Madison Neilsen, a student at Quabog Regional School District. 'I had to not get in too deep, that deep of debt. And I think that's really important for me.'It also showed people they don't have to have all the training. Many of these companies can take someone with little experience and train them to be skilled trades workers. River East School to Career hopes that with this event, it will lead students towards fulfilling and successful career paths. More than 10 schools in the greater Springfield and Palmer areas came out for this fair. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield celebrates National Library Week despite budget challenges
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – On Wednesday inside the Sixteen Acres Library Branch, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a proclamation to mark National Library Week. The theme for National Library Week 2025 is 'Drawn to the Library!' But it's getting hard to observe locally as libraries throughout Massachusetts are facing a budget challenge this year. Hundreds of students attend Skilled Trades Fair in Springfield Massachusetts gets $3.6 million in federal funding for library services, then the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners gives that money to local libraries. That funding was disrupted this week when President Trump ordered the entire staff of the Institute of Museums and Library Services to be placed on paid leave for 90 days, which stopped the processing of grant dollars. Now, libraries across the state are waiting on updates from the library board about potential funding cuts or delays. But staff at the Sixteen Acres Library Branch encourages the public to use their voices to make a difference. 'Think about what's important to you and reach out to your elected officials to let them know that funding that comes to the state has an impact on you,' said Jean Canosa Albano, Assistant Director for Public Services at Springfield City Library. Despite the uncertainty, Springfield libraries will continue celebrating National Library Week with special events. For a list of events, visit WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
