Press Release  Governor Healey Announces $2 Million to Expand Apprenticeship in Massachusetts

Taunton — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $2 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to 31 organizations to train and place nearly 300 apprentices and pre-apprentices across the state. The grants, including contract renewals and new awards, leverage nearly $2 million in state funding to train apprentices in high-growth industries such as health care, manufacturing, clean energy, and life sciences.

Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience, including classroom instruction and on-the-job training, combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility and advancement.

Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones made the announcement at IBEW Local 223 in Taunton, Massachusetts. Among grantees, Building Pathways South, headquartered at the event location, received $97,500 to train and place 30 pre-apprentices in union trades.

“Whether it's construction, health care, manufacturing or clean energy, Massachusetts employers need skilled workers, and our residents need opportunities to get the training that leads to good jobs,” said Governor Maura Healey. “By expanding apprenticeships across the state, we're creating more pathways to careers, helping employers develop local talent and making sure more people can participate in our growing economy.”

“There are so many paths to a successful career, and apprenticeships are helping more Massachusetts residents find theirs,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Whether someone is just starting out or looking to change careers, these programs offer hands-on experience, a paycheck and skills that employers are looking for. We're investing in more opportunities for people to build a strong future for themselves and their families.”

The Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) administers the Commonwealth’s Registered Apprenticeship Programs. DAS oversees more than 900 registered apprenticeship programs across Massachusetts. Construction and building trades apprenticeships comprise the majority of programs, with nearly a quarter of registered apprentices represented by expansion industries such as health care, education, and manufacturing.

“Registered Apprenticeship is a proven workforce development strategy that benefits both workers and employers by combining paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction and opportunities for career advancement,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Through our GROW grants, we're expanding apprenticeship opportunities beyond the traditional building trades and into high-demand sectors like health care, manufacturing, clean energy, and life sciences. These investments reflect our commitment to making Registered Apprenticeship more accessible to employers and jobseekers while building a stronger, more inclusive workforce across Massachusetts.”

Governor Healey has taken further steps to make it easier and more affordable for employers to participate in registered apprenticeship programs. Earlier this year, shelowered the annual program fee for Registered Apprenticeship sponsors from $300 to $250 and expanded eligibility for the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit to include occupations featuring AI-related credentials, defense manufacturing, and additional manufacturing occupations.

In 2025, DAS approved nearly $1 million in registered apprenticeship tax credits for 50 employers supporting 206 apprentices, more than double the previous years.

“Apprenticeships are opening doors to new careers in more industries than ever before,” said Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler. “From the building trades to health care, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies, our GROW grants are helping employers develop talent and giving more Massachusetts residents a chance to earn while they learn.”

“Our GROW grants are helping employers build a skilled workforce while creating new pathways to good-paying, sustainable careers,” said Director of the Division of Apprentice Standards Lara Thomas. “By expanding apprenticeship into new and growing industries, we are opening doors for more Massachusetts residents to earn while they learn and gain the skills needed to succeed.”

GROW Grant Recipients:

The following is a list of the 31 grant recipients, totaling $2 million and resulting in 295 apprentices and pre-apprentices: 

Health and Human Services

• AC1 Homecare (Braintree): $32,500 grant to train and place 5 home health aide apprenticeships
• *Advocates for Human Potential (Sudbury): $227,500 grant to train and place 35 apprentices in licensed drug and alcohol counselor apprenticeships.
• *BAYADA (Foxborough and Auburndale): $108,750 to train and place 15 Registered Nurse Resident Apprentices
• *Franklin Hampshire Employment and Training Consortium (Greenfield): $19,500 to develop Dental Assistant apprenticeship and hire and train 6 apprentices
• New Hope Behavioral Health (Worcester): $65,000 to train and place 10 behavioral technician apprenticeships.
• Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester): $97,500 to train and place 30 Medical Assistant and IT Support pre-apprenticeships.
• Reading Memorial High School (Reading): $20,000 to develop healthcare and advanced manufacturing apprenticeships.
• Rouxbe Global Food (Boston): $65,000 to train and place 10 hospitality and healthcare food services.
• RTW Essential Wellness (Dorchester): $65,000 to train and place 30 Apprentices in health care, manufacturing, and behavioral health.
• Urban College of Boston (Boston): $50,000 to develop Boston Care Corps for elder care.

Manufacturing

• Bridgewater State University (Bridgewater): $25,975 to train and place 8 pre-apprentices in advanced manufacturing.
• Custom Group Center for Manufacturing Technology (Woburn): $20,000 to develop an advanced manufacturing apprenticeship.
• Holyoke Community College (Holyoke): $50,000 to develop Western Massachusetts Advanced Manufacturing Partnership
• MassHire MetroNorth Workforce Board (Malden): $100,000 to update Registered Apprenticeship occupations to incorporate new manufacturing technologies like AI, robotics, automation, and machine vision.  
• Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Auburn): $38,969 to train and place 12 advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeships.

Trades

• *Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Boston): $217,500 to train and place 30 apprenticeships in construction management, building energy management, and automotive technology.
• Building Pathways South (Milford): $97,500 to train and place 30 pre-apprenticeships in union trades.
• IBEW Local 103 (Boston): $130,000 to train and place 20 electricians and telecommunications apprentices.
• Massachusetts Girls in Trades (Boston): $50,000 to build a pipeline to trades for female high school students.
• Medford Wellington Service Co. Inc. (N. Billerica): $78,000 to train and place 12 HVAC apprenticeships
• Tremco Rising Stars (Boston): $50,000 to develop a multi-union co-delivered pre-apprenticeship pathway model that connects a full exploratory rotation across the building trades 

Various Industries

• AFAANWI Services Inc. (Milford): $26,000 grant to train and place 4 transportation sector apprenticeships.
• Community Day Care Center of Lawrence (Lawrence): $32,500 to train and place 10 pre-apprenticeships in early childhood education.
• Curry College (Milton): $20,000 to develop a data analyst apprenticeship.
• Holyoke Community College (Holyoke): $16,250 grant to train and place 5 pre-apprenticeships in weatherization.
• MassBioEd (Cambridge): $195,270 to train and place 26 Life Sciences apprenticeships
• MassHire Greater Brockton (Brockton): $26,000 grant to train and place 4 early childhood educator apprenticeships.
• *Massachusetts Bankers Association (Statewide): $26,000 to train and place 4 credit analyst apprenticeships
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (Boston): $32,500 grant to train and place 5 rail vehicle maintenance technician apprenticeships.
• Northern Essex Community College (Haverhill): $20,000 to develop a career technical education teacher apprenticeship.
• Patience Noah Insurance LLC (Boston): $26,000 grant to train and place 4 insurance industry apprenticeships.

* indicates funds will be used to renew an apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program

Statements of Support

"We are extremely grateful to the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice Standards for funding our GROW grant application. This critical grant enables Building Pathways South to support our graduating pre-apprenticeship students as they transition into their apprenticeship careers by helping cover essential supportive services and paying for their first-year apprenticeship toolkits when they get accepted into a trades union. This investment directly removes financial barriers for our graduates, equipping them with the exact tools and support they need to succeed on day one on the job site." - Thomas Akers, Building Pathways South Pre-Apprenticeship Program Director

###