Cape Cod Chamber Helps Initiate Seasonal Worker Program

Wendy Northcross

HYANNIS – A pilot program is starting on Cape Cod this summer to help provide employers seasonal help through the end of the year.

The program is a collaboration between the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and the state’s department of Housing and Community Development to connect individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and on subsidized housing with employers in need of help.

“The goal is to see if we can identify some folks, match them up with an employer, vet them and get them onsite by mid August,” said Wendy Northcross, the CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Northcross said the program will provide a meaningful source of work, training and career path development.

“We do lose a lot of our college kids and our students go back before the end of August, but business is strong right through Columbus day and some cases Thanksgiving and New Year’s,” Northcross said.

The pilot program will look to pair up to 50 workers with businesses in need of help at the end of the summer.

“Some of this was driven by concern that the H-2B visa cap wouldn’t be changed and some employers wouldn’t get enough temporary seasonal workers,” she said.

Northcross said one temporary position on Cape Cod supports about three year-round positions.

“If a business can’t take advantage of that peak season activity they might not make enough money to keep the payroll up all year round,” Northcross said.

“If we can get anywhere from 5 to 50 people employed this summer and try that then maybe then we know better what to ask for for next year,” she said. “Is it shuttle buses? Is it onsite housing that the employer can provide. It’s kind of exciting actually.”