Masshire Hampden County Workforce Board
The MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board, Inc. (MHHCWB), formerly known as the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Springfield, Massachusetts. Established in 1980 and formally incorporated in 1983, the organization serves as the region's primary planner and convener for workforce development issues. The MHHCWB is a business-led nonprofit corporation that engages members from business, education, labor, and community-based agencies to set public policies addressing workforce development.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.1M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.5M
-11.7% YoY
Grant Count
25
+19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$380K
-25.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Regional Employment Board leads a dynamic, efficient and integrated workforce development system that promotes economic development and community growth, and is rooted in the principles of equity and increased access to workforce development services for employers and job seekers.
Primary Focus Areas:
The organization plans, coordinates and oversees the growth and effective use of public and private investment in workforce development initiatives for quality jobs. Primary program areas include:
- Adult Workforce Services: Job search and placement assistance, intensive workforce preparation, and training services to eligible adults and dislocated workers under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) contract
- Youth Services: Comprehensive services to low-income in-school and out-of-school youth, including drop-out prevention, work experience, GED preparation, and guidance counseling
- Summer Youth Employment: Implementation and oversight of youth summer jobs programs
- Career Centers: Universal access to basic labor exchange services for job seekers and employers
- Vocational Education and Training: Funding of vocational education and training services, post-employment services, literacy services, and summer learning programs
- Apprenticeships: Expansion of apprenticeship programs, including a state-approved Registered Apprenticeship program in rail car manufacturing
Grantmaking
The MHHCWB functions as both a workforce development convener and a grantmaker, distributing federal and state workforce funding to service providers and community organizations.
Grant Range
$5,415 to $2,957,508
Ready to take the next step with Masshire Hampden County Workforce Board?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization serves Hampden County, Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley region. The MHHCWB develops regional workforce planning and labor market analysis for the Pioneer Valley through its Regional Blueprint.
Regional Economic Context:
- As of 2024, Hampden County's population declined by 1.5% since 2019 (loss of 7,112 residents)
- From 2019 to 2024, jobs declined by 4.6% in Hampden County, from 234,467 to 223,665
- Top employment sectors include Health Care and Social Assistance (55,286 jobs), Government (34,653 jobs), and Retail Trade (20,049 jobs)
- Educational attainment: 16.8% of residents hold a Bachelor's Degree; 9.6% hold an Associate's Degree
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (FY 2025):
- Total Assets: $4,073,993
- Total Revenues: $14,160,034
- Total Expenses: $14,082,655
- Total Giving: $11,945,386
- Number of Employees: 18-30
Prior Year (FY 2024):
- Total Revenues: $14.6 million
- Total Expenses: $14.5 million
- Total Assets: $3.69 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.99 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,073,993 | $3,685,677 | $3,429,463 |
| Revenue | $14,160,034 | $14,607,976 | $15,807,503 |
| Expenses | $14,082,655 | $14,473,915 | $15,758,366 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $557 | $1,127 | $4,338 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Masshire Hampden County Workforce Board
Registered Apprenticeship Expansion and Tax Credit Opportunities
MASSHIRE HAMPDEN COUNTY WORKFORCE BOARD
Amount
Up to $4,800 per qualified apprentice (MA Registered Apprentice Tax Credit)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WIOA Youth RFP FY27 - Year-Round Services
MASSHIRE HAMPDEN COUNTY WORKFORCE BOARD
Amount
$1.53M (draft allocation)
Deadline
April 15, 2026
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
MASSHIRE HAMPDEN COUNTY WORKFORCE BOARD
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: John William Ward
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEREDITH WISE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA SAMRA | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| EUGENE CASSIDY | DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CRAIG BROWN | DIRECTOR/CLERK (END 8/24) | 1 | — |
| JOHN COOK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL BAILEY | DIRECTOR (END 1/25) | 1 | — |
| CLEVELAND BURTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN MITCHELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE GALAT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FIORE GRASSETTI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SPIROS HATIRAS | DIRECTOR (END 12/2024) | 1 | — |
| KEN MESSINA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| J JEFFREY SULLIVAN | DIRECTOR (CLERK AS OF 1/2025) | 1 | — |
| KERMIT DUNKELBERG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ELLEN CUMMINGS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GINA GOLASH-KOS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EDWARD DEMETRION | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACOB WAAH | DIRECTOR (END 12/2024) | 1 | — |
| DANIEL BUTTERFIELD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KESHAWN DODDS | DIRECTOR (END 12/2024) | 1 | — |
| SUSAN KASA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EDWARD O'KEEFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WENDY ANDINO-WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GEORGE TIMMONS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CATHY BUONO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DIANA CARR | VP & COMPTROLLER | 37.5 | $145,694 |
| PETER FARKAS | PRESIDENT & CEO | 37.5 | $132,933 |
| STEVEN TRUEMAN | VP WORKFORCE OPERATIONS | 37.5 | $143,004 |
| EDDA JOHNSON | MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CC SE | 37.5 | $104,503 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Apprenticeship Expansion:** The MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board was awarded $217,500 to expand apprenticeships
Apprenticeship Training Grant Awarded to MassHire Hampden \u2014 Senator\**YouthWorks Program:** Received $22 million in YouthWorks grants to hire over 6,500 youth for summer and year-round employment
Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $16 Million in Grants to ...**EDA Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program:** Selected as a finalist for the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program
MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board Selected as a Finalist for the EDA\u2019\**Manufacturing Partnership:** Partnered with CRRC MA (a railroad equipment manufacturer headquartered in Springfield) and local unions on a state-approved Registered Apprenticeship program for mechanical production worker training in rail car manufacturing
Apprenticeship Training Grant Awarded to MassHire Hampden \u2014 Senator\**Pioneer Valley Advanced Manufacturing Summit:** Hosted summit to address regional workforce development needs
**2025 MassHire Awards:** Recognized at the Massachusetts State House
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Masshire Hampden County Workforce Board on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities