Page 21 - BusinessWest July 7, 2025

Kristen Joyce
says Bridges
to Prosperity
Aims to
expand
to 100
participants
this year, in
an expanded
range of
careers.
RELATIONSHIPS
make all the difference
Development Council, has been working on ways to navigate the cliff
effect, and one key tool has been Bridge to Prosperity, a statewide pilot
program that launched in February with 18 participants. It was initially
funded with $1 million in seed money from ARPA, announced in 2022,
a figure that eventually grew to $2.6 million in public and private funds.
Seven of the initial 18 participants are in the Springfield area; the
others are in Boston and Worcester. The program provides direct pay-
ments to workers facing the cliff effect, aimed at bridging the gap and
making up for the value of lost benefits. Participants also receive finan-
cial and career coaching and connections to community resources as
needed, and will be eligible for a $10,000 asset-building bonus at the
end of the two-year program.
“The goal is to serve up to 100 people by the end of the year,” Joyce
said. “We’re actively fundraising and building out our employer partner-
ships in Boston and Worcester as well. It’s definitely an economic devel-
opment issue, and employees being at the table is really key.”
At the heart of the initiative is the idea that rigid safety net policies
often discourage economic advancement, and Bridge to Prosperity
addresses this challenge in myriad ways.
“A few months ago, this all felt out of
reach,” one of the Springfield pilot participants
said. “Now, with support from the Bridge
to Prosperity pilot, I’m not just dreaming
of becoming a nurse; I’m taking real steps
toward it and toward building a stable future
for my son.”
Multi-layered Support
Joyce broke down the four key elements of
Bridge to Prosperity for BusinessWest.
First, participants receive either $300,
$500, or $700 per month to bridge the gap in
lost benefits. Essentially, as wage increases
result in a loss of assistance supports (like
housing, childcare, and food) but are not
enough to cover those expenses, the pilot will
provide targeted cash assistance payments to
bridge the gap.
Next, the pilot offers career coaching, finan-
cial management coaching, and wraparound
services that empower participants to achieve
their career and financial goals. This coaching
aims to embed social capital resources into families and their communi-
ties, with far-reaching benefits. The coaching partners include United
Way Pioneer Valley in Springfield, Worcester Community Action Coun-
cil, and Women’s Money Matters in Boston.
“This is education and training around budgeting and goal setting
around employment,” Joyce said. “Financial education and wellness is a
big part of it.”
The third element is employer participation, aimed at mapping
access to career pathways that pay a living wage, while helping area
employers gain perspective on how the cliff effect impacts their
workforce.
Joyce noted that six of the seven Springfield pilot participants are
with Baystate Health, on track to become LPNs, in an environment
where healthcare employers are in desperate need of more nurses.
“A few months ago,
this all felt out of
reach. Now, with
support from the
Bridge to Prosperity
pilot, I’m not
just dreaming of
becoming a nurse;
I’m taking real steps
toward it and toward
building a stable
future for my son.”
At Country Bank, we’re made a little different. We
have the expertise, resources, and tools you need
to turn opportunities into growth. It’s not just
banking to us. We’re here to make a difference for
your business and we believe that it starts with a
great relationship.
Business W est << BANKING & FINANCE >>
JULY 7, 2025
21