Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $11 Million to Businesses for Workforce Training Programs

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $10.9 million in Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) Awards have been awarded to 125 businesses statewide to date in 2024. The grants, administered and distributed by the Commonwealth Corporation, aim to address business productivity and competitiveness by providing funding to Massachusetts businesses to train current and newly hired employees. Commonwealth Corporation projects more than 6,600 workers will receive skills training in the workplace and grant recipients will add more than 1,400 additional employees in Massachusetts over the next two years.

“Massachusetts is the best state to live in and a great place to work and innovate. That’s in large part due to our investments in businesses and the workforce,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants provide the resources needed to help build a pipeline of skilled workers, allowing our businesses to remain competitive and helping them grow and expand.”

“Investing in workforce through vital training and upskilling is a recipe for success, not only for our businesses but for our state as a whole,” said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. “These grants help expand our skilled talent pool for employers, strengthens our competitiveness, and allows our economy to prosper.” 

The Workforce Training Fund Program grants are part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s strategic investment to retain and upskill existing talent in Massachusetts’ current workforce. Grants announced today have served as a resource awarded by Commonwealth Corporation to businesses in regions statewide throughout the calendar year. 

Awarded grants span eleven different industries including $5.6 million awarded to 67 manufacturing businesses to train 3,139 workers and $2.1 million awarded to 20 businesses in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry with the goal to train 1,255 workers.

“Our greatest asset is our people, and we value the resources we can leverage to strengthen the skills, productivity, and competitiveness of Massachusetts workers,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “The Workforce Training Fund is an incredible resource that employers can tap to retain and upskill existing workers with critical skills such as ESOL, technology, project management, and relevant industry credentials and certifications that advances professional development plus outcomes for businesses across the state.”

“Through the Workforce Training Fund Program, our grantee partners are making a profound impact on the future of our workforce and economy,” said Molly Jacobson, President and CEO of Commonwealth Corporation. “Their dedication to delivering effective, customized training programs is essential to keeping Massachusetts’ businesses competitive and our workers thriving. We deeply value their commitment and proudly applaud their efforts to build a stronger, more resilient economy.”

Workforce Training Fund Program grants are available for businesses of all sizes, with the greatest use applied by small to medium-sized businesses. The grants provide instruction on a variety of skills, including ESOL, project management, software and IT, and machine set-up and operation. Businesses can apply for two types of grants through the Workforce Training Fund Program: 1) Express Program, which provides fast and flexible access to grant-funded training designed so that small businesses can quickly and easily access funding to address immediate needs; and 2) General Program, which are two-year grants used for large-scale, strategic training projects. During fiscal year 2024 (July 2023 – June 2024), these programs awarded $37.2 million to train more than 27,900 workers from more than 1,600 businesses.  Employers receiving these grants plan to add more than 2,800 additional employees in Massachusetts by 2026. These two-year grants are awarded competitively and can range from $10,000 to $250,000. 

Grant recipients contribute a matching investment of at least one dollar for each grant-dollar awarded. This announcement includes General Program Training Grants awarded from November 2023 through July 2024.

The full list of the grant recipients, totaling $10,987,348 to train 6,651 individuals, can be found here.

Statements of Support

Vicki Fry, Director of Human Resources, Jeffco Fibres Group, Inc.

“The Workforce Training Fund Program is allowing our employees to upskill in a variety of ways, from technical skills like Excel, learning how to manage their time and handle change more effectively, to enhancing their English language capabilities. We have customized the training offered to meet our workforce and company needs. Employees are excited to take courses that will expand their opportunities for advancement and appreciative of the ability to take courses at the workplace, while being paid.  Being able to apply the grant funds to meet our needs will enable our employees and the company to grow and prosper.”

Derek Mitchell, President, LEADS.

“LEADS is grateful for our partnership with the Workforce Training Fund Program, which allows us to invest in regional leaders and drive economic growth in both for-profit and non-profit companies.  Because of the WTFP, new jobs are created, new collaborations are brokered, and both organizational and community-wide innovations are realized.”  

Meredith Elbaum, Executive Director, Built Environment Plus (BE+)

“The Workforce Training Fund enables Built Environment Plus (BE+) to expand our mission of driving a sustainable and regenerative built environment. A high percentage of the grant dollars go towards trainings to help our clients reduce their projects’ carbon emissions and contribute to meeting the Commonwealth’s Climate Goals. The curricula include courses on green building rating systems, energy modeling and building software, and human health and wellbeing; as well as courses promoting effective leadership, communication skills in the realm of sustainability, and diversity, equity, an inclusion in the workforce environments.”

Elizabeth A. Paquette, President, Rock Valley Tool, LLC

"We are so thankful for the opportunity to receive a Workforce Training Grant. These funds will be used to improve our processes and to train our team in the area of cybersecurity and give our customers the peace of mind knowing that we are up to date in this area.”

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