Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester will be running two workshops on biomanufacturing for students this spring, thanks to a new $50,000 grant.
The grant comes from Worcester incubator Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives, along with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, according to a Tuesday press release. The grant goes towards QCC’s Fundamentals of Biomanufacturing pilot program, which is meant to provide students the necessary training for an entry-level position within the industry.
QCC President Luis Pedraja praised the grant as a way to expand the diversity of the biomanufacturing workforce and provide the school’s students with employment opportunities.
“Biomanufacturing jobs are increasing exponentially in our region and programs such these offer a unique way for people to quickly upskill and reskill, so they can enter a field that is rich with opportunities,” said Pedraja in the press release. “We want to thank MBI and the MOBD for supporting a program that is contributing to our economic growth in the commonwealth.”
The program runs for 10 weeks and had been previously held in the fall, which enrolled 13 English-language learners from the school’s Adult Community Learning Center. Of those, five received employment offers after completing the program.
For the upcoming spring programs, QCC said it would reach out students who may have left school due to the COVID-19 pandemic or who recently completed high school equivalencies and are interested in participating in the program.
