Springfield Area Working Communities Challenge

The Springfield Area is one of four regions in Vermont to receive the Working Communities Challenge grant. The 3-year, $300,000 grant is provided by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and supported by the State of Vermont and several philanthropic organizations.

The goal of the Springfield Area Working Communities Challenge (SAWCC) team is to increase workforce participation throughout the region by addressing the challenges that prevent residents from finding and maintaining employment. More specifically, the team aims to address systemic barriers associated with transportation, childcare, housing, education, and recovery.

The strategy for the SAWCC Team is to create a holistic, wrap-around approach to meet the needs of individuals seeking employment. This will be done by creating a collaborative network of regional employers and social service providers. Cross-sector engagement from these community partners will contribute to strengthening existing systems and help develop new ones.

Employer Resource Guides

The following documents are intended to help employers identify resources for employees living in the Springfield Region.

Employer Guide to Child Care

Employer Guide to Recovery & Substance Use Disorder

WCC Extended Partner Resource Database

The Springfield Team has developed a “Resource Database Intranet” for the WCC Partner Network to easily access information for resources and services from organizations in the Region. If you are a member of the WCC Partner Network (see list below) you can access the Database through the link below. You will need the pin code for your organization to gain access to the website.

Enter the WCC Resource Database Intranet Here!

To update your organization’s page, please get in touch with WCC Initiative Director, Amanda Sidler.

SAWCC Initiatives

Digital Literacy & Adult Education

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Core Team established a Free Laptop Program to help members of the community access technology to find new employment and education opportunities. This program ended in 2024, but through this unique opportunity, we learned the importance of digital literacy to increase participation in the workforce.

We now offer a digital literacy course in partnership with many of our WCC Partners. This free, 5-week training program helps individuals improve their digital literacy skills for the workplace. The Program, Computer Skills for the Workplace, has had 6 iterations in three towns, including Bellows Falls, Springfield, and Windsor, Vermont. Participants can also receive a refurbished laptop upon completion of the program.

If you would like to participate in a future Computer Skills for the Workplace Course, you can fill out the waitlist form here.

Childcare Counts Coalition

This group of WCC partners is dedicated to increasing the availability of high-quality childcare in the working community’s region. Recognizing that access to childcare is a critical economic and workforce development issue. The group seeks to engage a broad range of partners and families on childcare issues.

See above in the Employer Guide section for information on accessing Child Care in the Springfield Region.

Transportation Subcommittee

To address barriers pertaining to transportation, members of the extended partner network have formed the Transportation Taskforce.

Partners at Southeast Vermont Transit have designed a comprehensive Ride Guide to help disseminate information to Employers, Service Providers, and Residents of the Springfield Region.

Springfield Team Impact on the Community

Springfield Region

The Springfield SAWCC Region includes Andover, Baltimore, Cavendish, Chester, Grafton, Londonderry, Ludlow, Plymouth, Reading, Rockingham, Springfield, Weathersfield, Weston, Windham, West Windsor, and Windsor.

SAWCC Core Team Members

Reach Up/TANF, VT Agency of Human Services – Jeanne Neal
River Valley Technical Center – Scott Farr
Springfield Regional Development Corporation – Bob Flint
VT Agency of Human Services – Sue Graff
VT Department of Labor –
Windham Foundation – Karen Murray