Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $5.9 Million to Train and Hire Over 900 Residents in Jobs Statewide

CENTERVILLE, MA — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $5.9 million in workforce development grant funding for 12 initiatives across Massachusetts, representing partnerships with employers, training providers, and regional collaborators to train, upskill, and provide job placement for 951 workers for in-demand occupations in health care, logistics, education, information technology and more.

“Across Massachusetts, employers are looking for skilled workers and residents are looking for opportunities to build successful careers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants help us do both by connecting people with the training they need to fill in-demand jobs and helping businesses grow with the workforce they need.”

“Every region of our state has unique workforce needs, and these grants give local partnerships the flexibility to meet them,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By bringing together employers, educators and workforce organizations, we're creating more pathways to good-paying careers across Massachusetts.”

The Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants are funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and administered by Commonwealth Corporation through the state’s Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund. Each awarded grant aims to close the skills gap, increase access to well-paying jobs for unemployed and underemployed residents, and strengthen productivity and workforce needs among employers in regions throughout Massachusetts. Workforce Success grants fund job training and job placement for untapped talent and upskilling programs for incumbent workers. Among the 12 awarded grants, four grants are also dedicating efforts to incorporate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in planned job training—an effort to reduce employment barriers such as language that some jobseekers experience.

Since January 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation, has awarded nearly $77 million in Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants to train over 10,500 unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers.

Secretary Lauren Jones of Labor and Workforce Development announced awarded grants at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce in Hyannis. Among the 12 grantees, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce plans to train, upskill, and provide employment for 56 unemployed and underemployed in Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator roles with chamber members including Sun Island Delivery, The Steamship Authority, Sid Wainer and Son, Cape Cod Express, and Eldredge & Bourne Moving & Storage.

“Workforce Success Grants offer an effective and proven tool for training providers to prepare skilled talent and for employers to access a skilled talent pool,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “By partnering with industry, training providers, and regional organizations, we're creating talent pipelines for occupations that are essential to Massachusetts' economy. From health care to education to technology and beyond, these investments will help employers fill critical positions and enable more residents to build rewarding careers in regions across Massachusetts."

“We recognize and appreciate these twelve grantees for their dedication to expanding economic opportunities throughout the Commonwealth,” said Molly Jacobson, President and CEO of Commonwealth Corporation. “By investing in workforce training and job development, they are helping job seekers pursue meaningful careers in high-demand fields while also strengthening employers with a skilled and prepared workforce.”

Grant recipients

The following is a list of the twelve grant recipients receiving a total of $5,998,069 to provide training and placement services to 951 individuals throughout Massachusetts:

• Berkshire County Regional Employment Board, Inc. ($500,000) will provide training and placement services to 172 unemployed and underemployed participants for Medical Assistant and Nursing Assistant roles. They will partner with Community Health Programs Inc. and Berkshire Health Systems.
• Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce ($499,957) in Centerville, MAwill provide training and placement services training to prepare 56 unemployed and underemployed participants for Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator roles. They will partner withSun Island Delivery, The Steamship Authority, Sid Wainer and Son, Cape Cod Express, and Eldredge & Bourne Moving & Storage.
• Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, Inc. ($500,000) in Boston, MAwill providetraining and placement services to prepare 36 unemployed and underemployed participants for Information Security Analyst, Computer Network Support Specialist, Computer Systems Analyst, Computer User Support Specialist, and Network and Computer Systems Administrator roles.They will partner with the City of Boston Department of Innovation and Technology, CyberTrust, Onward, Aligned Solutions, and City of Boston.
• City of Salem / MassHire North Shore Workforce Board ($500,000) in Salem, MAwill providetraining and placement services to prepare 100 unemployed and underemployed participants as part of the region’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP) for Machinist and Electromechanical Equipment Assembler roles.They will partner with Krohne and Innovent Technologies.
• MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board, Inc. ($499,865) in New Bedford, MAwill providetraining and placement services to prepare 122 unemployed and underemployed participants for Nursing Assistant roles. They will partner withAlden Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Bane Care Management, Child & Family Services, Home Care for Seniors Massachusetts Inc Home Instead, Integritus Healthcare, Bay Path at Duxbury Nursing and Rehabilitation, Prima CARE, Beth Israel Lahey Health, People Incorporated, High Point and Affiliated Organizations, and Southcoast Hospital Group.
• The International Institute of New England ($500,000) in Boston, MA will providetraining and placement services to prepare 72 unemployed and underemployed participants for Nursing Assistant roles.They will partner withCarleton-Willard Village, and Hands-On Community Care Inc.
• Jewish Vocational Service, Inc ($500,000) in Boston, MA will providetraining and placement services to prepare 67 unemployed and underemployed participants for Phlebotomist roles. They will partner withMass General Brigham and Boston Medical Center.
• MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board ($500,000) Inc in Springfield, MA will providetraining and placement services to prepare 85 unemployed and underemployed participants for Medical Assistants, Nursing Assistants, and Emergency Medical Technician roles. They will partner withCaring Health Center, Baystate Health, National Ambulance, Baystate OB/GYN, Holyoke Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and Hilltown Community Health Center.
• MassHire North Central Workforce Board ($498,247) in Lowell, MAwill providetraining and placement services to prepare 67 unemployed and underemployed participants for Light Truck Driver and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver roles.They will partner with Cape Cod Lumber, Primo Brands, Werner, Schneider, Quality Towing and Recovery, AA Transportation, Knights Limo, Cruise Control, Worcester Public Schools, Atlas Distributing, Leominster DPW, Direnzo Towing and Recovery, City of Worcester DPW, Soil X, Coca Cola Northeast, Valet Park of America, and Greenwood Industries.
• Open Sky Community Services, Inc. ($500,000) in Worcester, MA will provide training and placement services to prepare 50 unemployed and underemployed participants for Social and Human Service Assistant roles. They will partner withSeven Hills Foundation.
• Polus Center for Social and Economic Development ($500,000) in Athol, MA, will providetraining and placement services to prepare 72 unemployed and underemployed participants for Teaching Assistant and Special Education roles.They will partner with Fitchburg Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, Fitchburg Public Schools Paraprofessional Union, Worcester Public Schools, and Narragansett Regional School District.
• The University of Massachusetts, Amherst ($500,000) in Amherst, MA will provide training and placement services to prepare 52 unemployed and underemployed participants for Food Preparation Worker roles.They will partner withLawrence Public Schools and UMass Amherst Auxiliary Enterprises.

Statements of Support

Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

“The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for their continued investment in Cape Cod's workforce. This grant allows us to address a critical need for our employers, CDL drivers, and will enable more individuals to stay on Cape Cod and build meaningful careers here. We're excited to grow our CDL program and strengthen our economy in the process."

Ken Bates, President and CEO, Open Sky Community Services

“On behalf of Open Sky Community Services and Seven Hills Foundation, Kathleen Jordan, President/CEO of Seven Hills and I are pleased to continue the workforce development initiatives that were made possible by Commonwealth Corporation's Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund. This new grant award enables us to expand the geographic reach of our work and focus on Human Services roles that are particularly challenging to recruit for, while continuing to offer meaningful training and work opportunities for underserved populations.”

Ed O’Sullivan, Executive Director, MassHire North Shore Workforce Board

“MassHire North Shore is deeply grateful to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and Commonwealth Corporation for their support of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program (AMTEP). This Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund grant represents a significant investment in the North Shore's workforce and its advanced manufacturing sector. The program equips participants with essential technical skills while creating genuine pathways to sustain employment in one of the region's priority industries. Through partnerships with local employers, educational institutions, private foundations, and community organizations, the workforce system continues to strengthen this ecosystem for the long term. AMTEP prepares its graduates to meet the immediate demands of today's employers while opening manufacturing career pathways defined by long-term stability and growth. This grant will enable AMTEP to train and place more than 100 individuals over the next two years, addressing a sustained and ongoing demand for skilled manufacturing workers in the region."

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