Greenfield Community College recently hosted Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for a tour of the college’s workforce facilities and to envision how funds from the proposed BRIGHT Act “An Act to Build Resilient Infrastructure to Generate Higher-Ed Transformation,” could transform GCC’s facilities to meet quickly growing demands. The legislation proposes directing $2.5 billion from the Fair Share Amendment toward modernizing facilities and addressing deferred maintenance at Massachusetts public universities and community colleges.

“The BRIGHT Act is designed to improve facilities that are going to serve people who are going to be in your communities for a very long time, and it’s helping our public higher ed institutions compete, and lastly, it’s a job bill,” Driscoll said. “When we invest in these buildings and facilities, we are gonna put a lot of people to work. … We need the bill to pass. I know that the Senate and the House are working on that.”

Sen. Jo Comerford also attended the tour to voice support for the college, noting that the Legislature is actively reviewing the bill.

GCC President Michelle Schutt said her top priority for potential BRIGHT Act funding is expanding resources for the college's technical programs. “We would start with a machining building so that we could really partner with those employers who are just banging on our door waiting to give us equipment and train up their future workforce,” Schutt said.

Manufacturing and Trades Program Manager Caileb Milton said regional manufacturers and the Franklin County Technical School are eager to donate advanced industrial machinery, but the college lacks the physical space to accept them.

Kristin Cole, the vice president of workforce development at GCC, said the college has initiated early design plans for a multi-purpose manufacturing building. The proposed facility could also house the heating, ventilation and air conditioning program.

Dawn Josefski, the assistant dean of allied health programs, told Driscoll that immense student interest and regional demand from healthcare employers are limited by the campus's physical boundaries. .

Concluding her visit, the lieutenant governor expressed support for the faculty’s efforts, affirming the state's interest in bridging the gap between student training and high-demand industries. She noted both the potential of the campus and the barriers it currently faces.

“It’s a beautiful campus, serving students and particularly in work-related fields that will be of benefit to the region,” Driscoll said. “And there’s some work to do. That’s why we’re really excited about the BRIGHT Act and working with Sen. Comerford and the Greenfield Community College president. I think that there’s lots of opportunities for us to grow together.”