City Council Committee on Labor and Economic Development Hearing on Dockets #1787, #2026, #2028-2029, #2082, #2084-2085

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Forty Thousand Sixty-Three Dollars and Fifty-Four Cents ($40,063.54) in the form of a grant, WPP SNAP Expansion Grant, awarded by USDA - Food & Nutrition Service, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund enhanced job search services for TAFDC and SNAP participants, including career counseling, workshops, job fairs, and free job search resources through Boston's MassHire Career Centers.

This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and was referred to the Committee on September 23, 2026.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Forty Dollars and Twenty Cents ($1,822,840.20) in the form of a grant, WIOA Adult Activities, awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund services to help job seekers access employment, education, skills training, apprenticeships and support services.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) in the form of a grant, Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Fellow, awarded by Harvard University to be administered by the Law Department. The grant would fund a City Leadership Fellow, who will serve as a partner with City departments in the advancement of City programs and policies.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Hundred Ninety Thousand One Hundred Five Dollars and Twenty-Two Cents ($190,105.22) in the form of a grant, Apprenticeship Building America, awarded by the United States Department of Labor to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund equity pathways from pre-apprenticeships to registered apprenticeships (RAPs) in the hospitality, construction, health care, and life sciences industries for underrepresented populations and underserved communities.

These matters were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and were referred to the Committee on October 28, 2026.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of One Million One Hundred Twelve Thousand Three Hundred Eighty-Three Dollars ($1,112,383.00) in the form of a grant, Wagner Peyser Program, awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund the individual reemployment needs of unemployment insurance claimants, as well as prevent and detect improper benefit payments and application assistance for training and education resources and programs.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ninety-Five Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Three Dollars ($95,773.00) in the form of a grant, Wagner Peyser Admin, awarded by the United States Department of Labor, passed through the MassHire Department of Career Services, to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development.

Message and order authorizing the City of Boston to accept and expend the amount of Ninety-Five Thousand Dollars ($95,000.00) in the form of a grant, the Workforce Training Fund grant, awarded by MassHire Department of Career Services to be administered by the Office of Workforce Development. The grant would fund programming to help address business productivity and competitiveness by providing resources to Massachusetts businesses for training current and newly hired employees.

These matters were sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and were referred to the Committee on November 4, 2026.

NOTICE: The Boston City Council may have a quorum in attendance due to standing committees of the City Council consisting of both voting and non-voting members. However, members attending this duly posted meeting are participating and deliberating only in conjunction with the business of the standing committee.

Attendance

In accordance with Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025 modifying certain requirements of the Open Meeting Law and relieving public bodies of certain requirements, including the requirement that public bodies conduct its meetings in a public place that is open and physically accessible to the public, the City Council will be conducting this hearing remotely. This enables the City Council to carry out its responsibilities while ensuring public access to its deliberations through adequate, alternative means. The public may watch this hearing via live stream at boston.gov/city-council-tv and on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/Fios 964. This hearing will be recorded.

Public Testimony

Members of the public are cordially invited to attend and testify in person or virtually. Those wishing to testify in person should arrive five (5) minutes before the call of the hearing to sign up. Please bring fifteen (15) copies of any written documentation you wish to present at the hearing. Those wishing to testify virtually via videoconference should email the staff contact for a link and instructions to do so. Written comments may be sent to the Committee or staff email (below) and will be made a part of the record and available to all Councilors. The public may watch this hearing via live stream at boston.gov/city-council-tv and on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/Fios 964. This hearing will be recorded.

Staff Contact: Ryan Pratt

Mail Address:  Dockets #1787, 2026, 2028, 2029, 2082, 2084, 2085 City Council, City Hall, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02201

Committee Email:  ccc.education@boston.gov  

Staff Email:  ryan.pratt@boston.gov | Staff Telephone:  617-635-5635

Broadcast Live on Xfinity 8/RCN 82/ Fios 964 and streamed at: boston.gov/city-council-tv