WORCESTER, Mass. – An updated job and education center in Worcester aims to give local residents the skills and tools they need to improve their economic situation.

Spectrum donated $50,000 for the Spectrum Technology and Training Workshop at Worcester Community Action Council (WCAC), along with new laptops.

Spectrum employees spent the day Saturday building desks and updating the space.

The WCAC said the investment will help them advance their programs, which focus on helping youth in the city gain the job skills, experience and employment they need. 

"This is very meaningful because they’re coming to us at the foundation,” said Patti Ovalles, director of the Job And Education Center at WCAC. “And they're taking a moment to invest in not only what we're doing here, but in each individual youth that walks through our doors and helping them gain experience and training that they necessarily wouldn't get until they're on the job. But sometimes it's difficult for them to even get their foot in the door to that job. So, this is very, very helpful."

"Times are tough,” said Mayor Joseph Petty. "A lot of the money is being eaten away. So this is a point that WCAC is able to get money from Spectrum so they can take that money, put it to the real needs of the City of Worcester."

The donation is part of Spectrum's Community Center Assist Program, which has a goal of investing $30 million to benefit 100 community centers and job training programs in underserved areas across the company’s 41-state footprint.

Spectrum is the parent company of Spectrum News 1.