The MassHire Cape and Islands Workforce Board welcomes Justin Grota, our new Workforce Development Manager, whose extensive experience in youth development, community engagement, and workforce innovation strengthens our team and our mission.
Justin’s path began in criminal justice, earning an associate degree from Bristol Community College and a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University. He launched his career with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department, where he discovered a strong commitment to helping at risk youth find stability, purpose, and opportunity.
That commitment led him to Volunteers of America, where he supported young people who were not yet court involved but needed guidance and a pathway forward. During this time, Justin secured a grant to fund the initiative, his first experience with grant writing and an area he continues to enjoy.
His interest in hands on youth engagement brought him to MassHire in New Bedford, where he served as Youth Department Manager at the Career Center. There, he helped young people design community-based learning projects that taught them how to run businesses, build civic initiatives, and address real community challenges. His leadership and approach earned him a promotion to the Greater New Bedford Workforce Board, first as Business Development and Recruitment Specialist and later as Youth Department Director, a position he held for six years.
This fall, Justin joined the MassHire Cape and Islands Workforce Board.
When asked about his decision, he noted his respect for the region’s reputation as a leader in workforce development. “I have always respected the Cape’s reputation as a workforce leader,” he shared. “The region is known nationally for high level collaboration. And Kara O’Donnell Galvin is a master of her craft. I am looking forward to learning from her, from this team, and from this community.”
Justin sees both similarities and important distinctions between New Bedford and Cape Cod, but one challenge stands out: supporting young people in building sustainable careers that allow them to remain on Cape Cod, close to their families, while contributing to the region’s economic vitality.
A lifelong learner, Justin describes himself as a sponge. He values connection, conversation, and community engagement. “I am a builder by nature,” he says. “Those skills translate everywhere.”
In addition to his criminal justice background, Justin earned an MBA in project management from Louisiana State University, where he also discovered a strong interest in accounting. Methodical and disciplined, he approaches new work with curiosity and intention.
Outside of work, Justin’s life is centered around family and time spent outdoors. He and his wife Corinna, his best friend since high school, are raising their young daughter, Quinn, on a small farm with chickens and a large garden. Weekends often find him tending the land on a tractor or rebuilding car engines in his garage.
“Life is about embracing change,” he says. “Every job, every experience, every place you go teaches you something.”
Please join us in welcoming Justin to the Cape and Islands workforce community.
