Wareham Works summit spotlights education
WAREHAM —
Wareham held its third annual Wareham Works summit on Friday, March 30, at the Wareham Town Hall, this year featuring representatives from several area colleges and universities.
That’s because the focus for this year’s forum was, “education.”
Presenters came from Bridgewater State University, Cape Cod Community College, Bristol Community College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Suffolk University, and Massasoit Community College. Local chamber of commerce groups and town departments also set up booths. The representatives provided information on becoming involved with their organizations, or applications to apply to the schools.
Congressman William Keating, who is running for reelection in the newly created Ninth Congressional District that includes Wareham, was the opening speaker for Wareham Works, saying, “Students who graduate two-year programs at community colleges are now getting accepted into schools like Brown. They are catalysts for job training, and that training is important to our economic future. Community colleges are now a springboard for four-year colleges.”
He also praised the role of small businesses, saying that they provide more than 65 percent of jobs available. He views small businesses as one of the most important catalysts for job growth in the area.
He also spoke out about the lack of jobs for returning veterans. “It is a national disgrace that there are veterans who are unemployed after returning. The unemployment rate for returning veterans is higher than that of the rest of the country. I have seen them in Iraq, and seen them in Afghanistan, and I know that they are some of the strongest and finest men and women in this country,” Keating said.
Keating said that this region has all the ingredients to make it the Silicon Valley of the marine industry, praising the area for its developments in green technology and energy - including wind, solar, and photovoltaic energy.
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