Eligible Applicants
Application Limits
Employee Eligibility for Training
Training
Applicant Payment Responsibilities
Getting the Training Program Started
Review Process
Application Details
Additional Information
What Is the Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG) Program??
The HITG is a program designed to assist employers in covering the costs associated with training newly hired employees who have been unemployed for 6 months or more at the time of hire, and who are Massachusetts residents. The 6-month period is waived for veterans (a copy of the DD214 is required).
What is the mission of the HITG program?
The mission of the HITG program is to provide organizations with the resources to invest in the Massachusetts workforce by improving employee skills, and to maintain the economic strength and viability of the Commonwealth's businesses. The general priorities of the fund are to invest in projects
- that will result in job retention, job growth or increased wages.
- where training would make a difference in the company's productivity, competitiveness, and ability to do business in Massachusetts.
- where the applicant has made a commitment to provide significant private investment in training for the duration of the grant and after the grant has expired.
How is the program funded?
The HITG program is financed entirely through a surcharge on unemployment insurance by Massachusetts employers through contributions to the Workforce Training Fund.
Who is administering this program?
The Department of Career Services, an agency of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, administers the program.
Eligible Applicants
Who is eligible to apply?
- Businesses and organizations with employees who reside in Massachusetts.
- Businesses and organizations that contribute to the Workforce Training Fund through Department of Unemployment Assistances (DUA) taxes. Eligible businesses and organizations must also be current with their liabilities to the Department of Unemployment Assistance.
- Businesses with a current listing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This requirement only applies to corporations, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Companies.
- Businesses and organizations that can provide a Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue.
- Businesses and organizations that have not been debarred from doing business with the state or federal government.
- Businesses and organizations with a current and valid Workers' Compensation Policy.
Can a nonprofit organization apply for HITG funds?
Yes, a nonprofit organization can apply for training funds provided the organization pays contributions to the Workforce Training Fund and are current with their liabilities to the Department of Unemployment Assistance. In addition, they must meet all of the requirements specified in “Who is eligible to apply?”.
Can units of state, local, or county government apply for HITG funds?
No, governmental entities may not apply for these grant funds because they do not pay into the Workforce Training Fund.
Can a non-Massachusetts-based company apply for HITG training funds?
Yes, non-Massachusetts-based companies can apply for training funds provided they meet all of the eligibility requirements. The employees to be trained using HITG funds must work in Massachusetts and must be Massachusetts residents.
Application Limits
How many times can I apply?
Employers may submit multiple HITG applications for multiple new hires that qualify, and may apply for up to $30,000 in a 12 month period. Employers that qualify are awarded a grant of $2,000 per employee who meets the HITG program requirements and who has been approved for HITG-funded training. Each grant must be approved separately and payment of grant awards is contingent upon verification that training took place and that the new hire was employed for 120 days from the date of hire. Grant awards and amounts are subject to funding availability.
When is the best time to apply?
HITG applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications must be submitted online. Please call 1-800-252-1591 if you need assistance with the application process.
Employee Eligibility for Training
Who is eligible for training?
- Massachusetts residents who have been unemployed for 6 months or more at the time of hire.
- Veterans who are Massachusetts residents (a copy of the DD214 is required)
Confirmation of eligibility is based on the
Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request form 
. This must be submitted at the time of HITG grant application.
Those NOT eligible for training under HITG:
- High school students
- Family members of the employing business
- Contract and seasonal employees
If my work-site is in Massachusetts, but some employees live outside of Massachusetts, can I train them with these funds?
No. Employees must be Massachusetts residents that are employed in Massachusetts.
Can contract or seasonal workers be trained with these funds?
No, new hires must be permanent employees. Neither contract employees nor seasonal employees are eligible to be trained with these funds.Can part-time employees be trained with HITG funds?
Yes, both full-time and part-time employees are eligible for training.
Training
Can I choose any training provider I want?
Yes. A company may use qualified current employees to train new employees. Other external training providers may also be used. Applicants may opt to choose a course from the existing directory of courses approved for the WTF Express program. Choosing a training course listed in this directory, however, is not required to be eligible to receive HITG funds.
Does DCS guarantee the quality of the training providers on the Workforce Training Fund Express website?
No. DCS makes no representation regarding the availability or quality of a training course listed on the Workforce Training Fund Express website. The placement of a training course on the Express website does not constitute an endorsement of that training course or provider. Applicants are encouraged to research the applicable training provider/course prior to submitting an application.
What kind of training is allowable?
The HITG program is designed to meet the training needs of companies whose newly hired employees need training in skills related to their new position. We will not fund elementary orientation programs or municipal, state or federal mandated training such as OSHA requirements.
What are allowable training costs under a HITG grant?
HITG allows training costs to be applied to on-the-job training or a work-related training course.
Applicant Payment Responsibilities
What is the "applicant payment?"
Once the employer (the applicant) is approved for the HITG program and a HITG contract is in place, HITG funds will reimburse the applying employer for the cost of training at $2,000 per qualifying employee. Payment will be made upon receipt of a payment voucher along with documentation that the new hire was employed for 120 days from the date of hire. If training costs more than $2,000, the employer will pay the rest of the cost of the training; this is the "applicant payment" or "match."
Getting the Training Program Started
What are my financial obligations?
Businesses must pay any remaining cost of training beyond the allowable grant amount agreement in addition to the employee's wages while in training. The employees must be paid their regular pay while they are in training.
How and when will I be reimbursed?
DCS will reimburse $2,000 for training costs upon receipt of a payment voucher and documented verification from the employer that a new hire has been employed 120 days from the date of hire.
What is the contract process after aHITG application has been approved?
- The applicant/grantee will be mailed an award letter along with a Massachusetts Standard Contract and instructions on completing the contracting documents.
- The applicant is required to complete the contract documents and return them within 15 business days. Failure to return contract documents may result in the rescinding of the HITG award.
If the contract documents are incomplete or are missing data or provide incorrect information, applicants will be given no more than 60 days to provide the required documentation. Failure to provide required documentation will result in rescinding the HITG grant award.
When and how will I receive my grant award?
Reimbursement will take place after the new hire has been employed for 120 days and has completed the training. Applicant must submit the following in order to receive reimbursement:
- A signed Payment Voucher, along with the employees' last four digits of their social security number. Payment vouchers must be submitted electronically.
- Documentation that the new hire (employee trainee) is been employed for 120 days from the date of hire.
Review Process
How will applications be reviewed?
All applications undergo an internal staff screening in conjunction with the Director of the Department of Career Services who sets the policies and oversight of the program.
What is the criteria for approval?
Applicants must:
- Pay into the Workforce Training Fund.
- Be current on their unemployment insurance payments, Unemployment Health Insurance Tax and Fair Share Contribution.
- Have a Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue that has been issued within the past 6 months.
- Have a current and valid Workers’ Compensation Policy.
- Submit a Pre-Screening Notice and Certification form for each new hire trainee in the application attesting that they have been unemployed and permanently separated from their previous employer for at least 6 months, or that they are veterans (DD214 must be included with the application).
- Use grant funds to train Massachusetts residents who have been unemployed for 6 months or more or who are veterans (a copy of the DD214 is required).
- Submit their application within 30 days of the new hire's start date.
Additional Requirements and Considerations:
- Employee must be paid regular wages while in training.
- Grant awards are $2,000 per eligible new hire. Employers may apply for up to $30,000 in a 12 month period, but each $2,000 grant request must be approved separately.
- All training must be job-related.
- Trainees cannot be government workers, contract workers or family members.
- All trainees must be employed and reside in Massachusetts
- Businesses applying for funds that have not received previous Workforce Training Fund grants will be given preference over those that have.
Who will award the grants?
Grants are awarded by the Department of Career Services.
How long will the grant approval process take?
Decisions will be made in approximately 10 business days from the application submission date, provided all information is complete. Applicants will be notified of their application outcome (approval or denial) in writing.
If the application is approved, the applicant will be issued an award letter as well as contracting documentation. The applicant must complete and submit contract materials to the Contracts and Procurement Department within 15 days of receipt of the HITG award letter. If the contract documents are incomplete or are missing data or provide incorrect information, applicants will be given no more than 60 days to provide the required documentation. Failure to provide required documentation will result in rescinding the award.
Can I check the status of my application?
Yes, completing a simple registration form will give you immediate access to the Workforce Training Fund Employer Access Page where you can view the status of any of your submitted Workforce Training Fund applications.
What if my application is not approved?
Applicants will be informed in writing of the reasons their application is not approved.
Application Details
How can my company or organization apply?
Applications are completed online. A pre-screening form from each potential new-hire included in an application must be submitted at the time of the application, along with a current Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing. All application materials should be faxed to 617-723-5594. Please call 1-800-252-1591 if you need assistance with the online process.
What information is asked on the Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request form?
The following information is requested on the Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request form. Not all fields are required.
- Employee information: name, social security number, address, telephone number and date of birth, along with their unemployment status
- Employer Information:
- Federal Employer ID - The number your company uses when filing taxes
- Company Legal Name - The name associated with FEIN number
- Company Address - The Massachusetts address where the company is located
- Company Phone Number - The main company phone number
- Contact Name - The person who WTF staff will contact regarding the grant
- Contact Business Title - e.g. Owner, Manager, Executive Assistant
- Contact Phone Number - The direct phone line to contact
What information is asked on the Application form?
In conjunction with the information requested on the Pre-Screening Notice and Certification Request form, the online application form requests additional information. Not all fields are required.
- Federal Employer ID - The number your company uses when filing taxes
- DUA ID Number - The number your company uses when paying unemployment insurance taxes
- Doing Business As - The company name that the business is known as, if applicable
- Type of Applicant - e.g. Labor Organization, Employer - Profit - Publicly Traded, etc.
- Type of Industry - e.g. Construction, Service, Real Estate, Manufacturing (selected from a list of options)
- Contact Information: Street Address, City, State, Zip Code, Phone Number, Fax Number
- Contact Address - If different from the company address
- Company Web Address - The company web address, if applicable
- Number of Employees at the Parent Company - If the company has more than one location, total number of employees in all locations
- Number of Employees in Massachusetts - If the company has multiple locations in MA, total number of MA employees
- Number of Years in Business - The number of years the company been in business
Trainee Information
- Trainee Name - The names of all employees included in the application to receive training
- Trainee Social Security Number - The social security numbers of all employees included in the application to receive training
- Trainee Job Type - Type of job held or to be held by each employee included in the application to receive training, e.g. Production, Administrative
- Trainee Employment Start Date - The first day each employee will begin (or has begun) working
- Company is able to enter 13 new hires on one application
Training Information
For each trainee, the following information is needed:
- Training Type(s) - The type(s) of training the trainee will be participating in. e.g. Installation, Maintenance and Repair (selected from a list of options)
- Training Description - A detailed description of what the trainees will learn
- Training Start Date - The date the first training for the trainee will start
- Training End Date - The date the last training for the trainee will end
- Training Costs: Internal - The internal training costs for this trainee. This should only include the hourly wage of the internal employee trainer(s) multiplied by number of hours of the training. This number may also include the costs for materials, such as instructional manuals and discs to save documents
- Training Costs: External - The external training costs for this trainee. This should only include the costs of instructional training as provided by the external provider for this trainee. For example, if a trainee is expected to participate in a course where fees are quoted on a Per Person basis, the external training costs should be the Cost Per Person. However, if the trainee is expected to participate in a course where the fees are quotes as Flat Rate, the external training costs will depend on the number of people participating in the course.
Additional Information
Is my information secure if I apply online?
Yes. See our privacy policy.
If I receive a grant will there be tax implications?
There may be tax implications for receipt of a HITG grant. Grantees are encouraged to discuss these implications with their tax advisers. Please note: For the seven years following the closing of the grant, all records associated with this grant may be subject to audit.
How do I get assistance and additional information?
Call: (800) 252-1591
Fax: (617) 723-5594
E-mail: WTF@detma.org
Or write to:
The Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund HITG Program
Charles F. Hurley Building, First Floor
Department of Career Services
19 Staniford Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114