LOWELL — Employers in Burlington hope that a new Lowell to Burlington shuttle will help them tap into the city’s labor pool. The shuttle launched last week after years of research and planning. For years employers, particularly restaurants, in Burlington have struggled to access a labor pool large enough to fill their job openings, and for years Lowell has struggled with the opposite problem – connecting residents with a wider job pool.
Hoping to address the problem, the Middlesex 3 Coalition and Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce approached Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, and Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, for help. The collaboration has resulted in $250,000 in state funding over two years and contributions from the Town of Burlington.