New tech hub opens in Springfield to boost digital skills
Tech Foundry has expanded and opened up a new tech hub program in downtown Springfield, as an IT-focused digital equity organization, they are working to help those in the area learn tech skills.
They offer basic and intermediate digital literacy skills to everyone in the community. Tech Foundry opened a new hub in downtown Springfield, working to increase technical literacy in the area.
CEP Tricia Canavan told 22News, 'We see that once they have these skills and once they have a laptop, they can then access and fully participate in all the opportunities that we have here.'
In the world today, just about everything utilizes technology, but studies show that 1 in 6 Americans are not able to access the resources provided through the digital world. Mayor Domenic Sarno adding, ' It is an essential part of life, you have to have that technological knowledge so it can help you advance and be able to provide not only for yourself but your family.'
The City of Springfield contributed $700,000 through the ARPA fund to bring these programs to the city. Not only will Tech Foundry have classes three days a week at their hub, but the other two days, they will be teaching lessons out in the community. 'We will go out into people's neighborhoods to where they gather so that we can come to them and bring the technology, bring the training to make it easy,' adds.
Canavan said not only do they help with technical literacy, but also tech safety, 'Cyber security is a real concern, especially for many of our seniors, they might fall victim to unscrupulous people who are trying to get financial information and so that is also part of our training.'
Tech Foundry helps all ages to understand and navigate the digital world, whether it be to further extend a career or education, access medical information in a portal or even just set up a video call with family. Since 2014, they have served over 500 students with a 75% job retention rate after 6 months.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
America has two labor markets now
Americans live in separate economic realities: Those with a job are likely to stay employed, but those without one are likely to stay unemployed. Why it matters: Welcome to the low-hire, low-fire labor market. Private-sector layoffs are at historic lows, but that masks a dreadful outlook for unemployed workers or those unhappy with their current positions. Driving the news: The labor market surprised in June with a better-than-expected payroll gain of 147,000, the government said on Thursday. But a whopping 85% of those job gains came in just two sectors, according to calculations by Mike Konczal, a former Biden economic official: education and health care. Hiring in other sectors — including professional and business services, a catch-all category for white collar jobs — was little changed, the government said. The big picture: That continues the "frozen job market" trend that has plagued the economy in recent years. The trend is being exacerbated by the rise of AI, as employers experiment with how to make their workforces more productive. Separate data released this week showed the number of layoffs fell by 188,000 in May, hovering above multi-decade lows. But the number of people hired into new jobs also fell by 112,000, to a rate significantly below its pre-pandemic levels. The number of workers continuing to collect unemployment benefits is at the highest level since 2021, a sign that it is taking jobless workers longer to find a job. What they're saying: "We're in a complex jobs market —it's not falling apart but the lack of dynamism, the lack of churn and the lack of hiring has been punctuated in the first half of the year," says ADP chief economist Nela Richardson. "Many employers are loath to lay off workers until they see the whites of the eyes of a recession, having had such problems finding suitable workers in the first place," David Kelly, chief global strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, wrote in a recent note. The bottom line: If you look only at how many Americans are losing their jobs, this appears to be a pretty terrific labor market. If you look only at how many are being hired for new jobs, it is the weakest in years.
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Donald Trump's Approval Rating Flips With Baby Boomers
Donald Trump's support among baby boomers has rebounded sharply, giving the president a boost with one of his most dependable voting blocs as he heads into the 2026 midterm cycle. In the latest Quantus Insights poll, Trump's approval rating with baby boomers has flipped from being even to solidly positive. Last month, his numbers among over-65s stood at 49 percent approve and 49 percent disapprove. This month's results, however, show a significant turnaround. Trump now sits at 56 percent approve and 41 percent disapprove, a net positive of +15 points and a 15-point swing in his favor in just a few weeks. The reversal underscores Trump's enduring appeal with older conservatives, even as his approval ratings have dropped among younger Americans and some other key groups. Baby boomers—who were critical to Trump's win in 2024, when 51 percent of the age group voted for him—remain a vital pillar of his political base. While the Quantus Insights poll showed a boost in boomer support for the president, other polls show that his approval rating among this demographic has remained remarkably consistent in recent months. A YouGov/Economist poll found Trump's rating among over-65s holding steady at 45 percent approve/53 percent disapprove in June—barely changed from May's numbers of 45/51. An ActiVote poll shows a similar pattern, with Trump's approval slipping only slightly from 48 percent approve/48 percent disapprove in May to 42/52 in June among over-65s. Marist polling, too, shows almost no movement among boomers, with 41 percent approve/58 percent disapprove in June for over-60s compared with 40/57 in April. A Fox News poll recorded a modest shift, with Trump's rating among over-65s at 46/53 in June, up just a few points from 43/57 in April. Trump's standing with boomers could collapse in the coming months after Congress passed Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" on Thursday. It will cut roughly $1.1 trillion in health care spending and result in 11.8 million people losing Medicaid health insurance over the next decade, according to new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In 2021, approximately 9.4 million individuals aged 65 and older were enrolled in Medicaid, according to the Brookings Institution, including many who are "dual eligibles," meaning they are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. This makes Medicaid the single largest payer for long-term services and supports in the country. In fact, more than 60 percent of nursing home residents in the U.S. depend on Medicaid to help pay for their care. Recent polls have shown that a majority of Americans say they oppose Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. A Quinnipiac poll conducted June 22-24 found that 55 percent of Americans oppose the bill. A Fox News survey from June 13-16 put opposition even higher, at 59 percent. Meanwhile, a KFF poll from June 4-8 showed the strongest pushback, with 64 percent saying they reject the legislation. Even polls with relatively lower opposition still show more Americans against the bill than in favor. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll, conducted June 6–10, found 42 percent opposed but only 23 percent support it. While a Pew Research Center survey conducted June 2-8 showed 49 percent disapproval and 29 percent in favor. All five surveys included samples of at least 950 U.S. adults, indicating broad national sentiment. In the Quinnipiac poll, 47 percent of registered voters said they support the Medicaid work provision in the bill and 46 percent said they oppose them, effectively a dead heat. Meanwhile, the KFF poll found that 79 percent of Americans think it is the government's responsibility "to provide health insurance coverage to low-income Americans who cannot afford it." During his campaign, Trump vowed: "We're not cutting Medicaid, we're not cutting Medicare, and we're not cutting Social Security." Trump's approval rating among baby boomers is likely to fluctuate throughout his second term. Related Articles Steve Bannon Attacks Elon Musk Over New Party: 'You're Not American'Trump 'Heartbroken' Over Texas Flooding as Federal Aid PledgedIran's Supreme Leader Makes First Public Appearance Since WarWeather Service Staffing 'Clearly a Concern' Ahead of Deadly Texas Floods 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
4 Cryptocurrencies That Could Be the Next Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency has changed how Americans think about money, investing and the future of finance. According to Bridger Pennington, host of Investment Fund Secrets Show, this is due to new regulations, big institutional investments and a pro-crypto government. Read More: Find Out: Pennington said, 'I think crypto peak interest as of recent times is increasing, as Trump is the most crypto president ever. We've seen the SEC repeal the SAB121 rules for crypto accounting, which now allows banks to hold crypto assets on their balance sheet. It seems like the next age of money will be crypto.' From Wall Street giants like BlackRock to government agencies, there is a race to secure digital assets as the foundation for future finance. With these seismic shifts, Americans are asking which cryptocurrencies could become the next bitcoin. Here are the top contenders, backed by recent news and expert insights. Ethereum is often called the silver to bitcoin's gold, but its technology may give it the edge to become the next bitcoin. According to Nasdaq, ethereum's price surged 45% in the past month, outpacing bitcoin's 14% gain, thanks to its latest upgrade, Pectra, which improved speed and efficiency. Ethereum's platform also powers decentralized applications, NFTs and DeFi, making it a backbone for innovation in the crypto space. With the SEC expected to offer new guidance on staking, ethereum could see even more institutional adoption and regulatory clarity this year. As more developers and investors flock to ethereum, its potential to surpass bitcoin in utility and value becomes increasingly likely. I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: Ripple, with its digital asset XRP, has emerged as a leading candidate for global adoption in cross-border payments. Utkarsh Ahuja, crypto investor and founder of Moon Pursuit Capital, said, 'I think ripple could be the next bitcoin, because it beats bitcoin in transaction speed. XRP transactions settle in just three to five seconds, and cost only a fraction of a cent. In comparison, bitcoin transactions can take 10 to 60 minutes, and traditional SWIFT transfers may take up to five business days. Ripple's speed and low cost make it attractive for banks and financial institutions looking to move money efficiently worldwide. Over 300 institutions have already adopted ripple's technology, highlighting its growing influence in the financial sector. With its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, ripple could potentially replace SWIFT as the global leader in money transfer by enabling rapid cross-border payments without the need for pre-funded accounts. Solana has gained attention for its high-speed and low-cost transactions, making it a favorite among developers building decentralized apps. According to Forbes, solana's network can process thousands of transactions per second, with fees that are often less than a penny. This performance has attracted projects in areas like gaming, NFTs and DeFi, helping solana build a vibrant ecosystem. Solana's unique consensus mechanism, called Proof of History, enables fast validation and efficient scaling. While the network has faced some technical challenges, its rapid growth and active community suggest it could play a major role in the next wave of crypto innovation. Investors looking for the next bitcoin often consider solana because of its potential to handle mainstream adoption and real-world use cases. Cardano stands out for its scientific approach to blockchain development, with a focus on security, sustainability, and peer-reviewed research. According to the Wall Street Journal, cardano uses a unique proof-of-stake consensus mechanism that reduces energy consumption compared to proof-of-work systems like bitcoin. The platform's developers have partnered with universities and governments to explore real-world applications, especially in developing countries. Cardano's roadmap includes features for smart contracts, decentralized finance and digital identity, which could drive future growth. Experts say cardano's careful approach and strong academic backing make it a serious contender for long-term success. As more Americans look for environmentally-friendly and secure crypto options, cardano's reputation continues to grow. More From GOBankingRates 3 Luxury SUVs That Will Have Massive Price Drops in Summer 2025 The New Retirement Problem Boomers Are Facing I'm a Retired Boomer: 6 Bills I Canceled This Year That Were a Waste of Money This article originally appeared on 4 Cryptocurrencies That Could Be the Next Bitcoin Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
