BristolWORKS! A Collaborative Workforce Training Program, an initiative backed by the City of Bristol’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, has added to its staff as the program gets closer to launch.

Two staff members, an Office Assistant and an Employability Specialist, join Director Kim Ward Holley as the BristolWORKS! team. Dignalee Jorge will support Holley in a wide range of administrative and clerical duties as the training program’s Office Assistant. Anamaria Russo has been hired to fill the role of Employability Specialist.

The Employability Specialist serves a specialized role with BristolWORKS!, working with program participants beginning at intake, through the transition to job placement, higher-level training and/or college and post-training. Russo is the primary contact person for participants and will be responsible for career counseling, workforce readiness skills and workshops, collecting and tracking data, maintaining community connections, and attending community meetings.

BristolWORKS! is set to offer programs in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and early childhood education. Programs will be free to those who live or work in Bristol. Those who do not can still enroll. A fee may apply.

The first step in the application process can be taken at bristolworksct.org/apply.
Some programs, Holley stated, can be completed in as few as 12 weeks. The first classes are slated to begin next month.

BristolWORKS! is located in the Northside Square Plaza at 430 N. Main Street, Bristol. For more information call (860) 634-5335 or visit bristolworksct.org.

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