Press Release  The Workforce Skills Cabinet Announces Second Round of Career Technical Initiative Grants

Boston, MA — A Total of $850K is Being Awarded to Train 168 People.

Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet today announced four Career Technical Initiative (CTI) grants totaling $850,000 to train 168 people ready to enter the workforce or advance in their current careers. Round 2 supports 11 career pathways across the 4 schools.

The state-funded CTI Program is an initiative of Governor Baker's administration to up-skill students, as well as adults, for careers in high-demand and high-growth sectors, with an emphasis on creating pathways for people from underserved populations and underrepresented groups to access training.

They will be the second set of programs funded by the Career Technical Initiative Line item. $4M was allocated in the FY’21 budget.

These grants will transform vocational high schools into Career Technical Institutes, running three shifts per day to expand enrollment of high school students and adults. Career Technical Initiative Grant Recipients include:

Nashoba Valley Technical HS - Community Ed/Adult Ed received $210,000

Nashoba Valley Technical HS will provide training and placement to prepare un/underemployed individuals for jobs in the following target occupations: Automotive Services Technician, Plumber.

Their grant partners include: Triangle Service Center, Acton Toyota of Littleton, Atamian Honda, Stansfield Tire Center, Schlager Company, Basnett Plumbing, Heating & AC, Eric C. Foster Plumbing & Heating, Local 12 Plumber’s Union

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School received $300,000

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School will provide training and placement to prepare un/underemployed individuals for jobs in the following target occupations: Welding, Construction Craft Laborer, Electrical Technician, Automotive Technician, BioLab Technician. Their grant partners include: Salem Metal, Inc., Krohne, Cotter Brothers Corporation, Local 22 Construction & General Laborer’s Union, Groom Construction, Menino Construction, Harmonic Drive, Innovent Technologies, Kelly Automotive Group, Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, Mini of Peabody, New England Biolabs.

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School received $240,000

Madison Park Technical Vocational High School will provide training and placement to prepare un/underemployed individuals for jobs in the following target occupations: Welder, HVAC Technician.

Their grant partners include: Feeney Utility Support Group, A-plus Welding & Engineering, Inc, Newmarket Business Association, General Air & Heating.

Greater Lowell Technical High School received $100,000

Will provide training and placement to prepare un/underemployed individuals for jobs in the following target occupations: Welder, Plumber. Their grant partners include Employer Partners include: UpNovr. Inc, Bouley Trucking, Welfab, Inc. Precise Industries, Ayotte Plumbing, Rick Jean Plumbing and Heating, Marcoux Plumbing and Heating.

The grants include funding to deliver adult training, credentialing, and placement services in partnership with MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards. Approximately 9,000 to 13,000 additional adult learners are expected to earn industry credentials, opening opportunities for them to obtain jobs in high-demand skilled industries.

For more information about how you can enroll into a program or if you are a business seeking to fill vacancies in these occupations, please visit www.commcorp.org/

About Commonwealth Corporation: CommCorp invests in innovative partnerships to prepare youth and unemployed workers for jobs in demand, upskill underemployed workers leading to job retention, upgrades and wage gains, and create pathways for underserved youth.

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