There are various grant programs administered by MassHire Career Centers. There are federal grants and also local grants. Each grant program has its own amount of funding, what that funding can be used for (training, assessment, etc.) and set of eligibility criteria. Below are some of the various grants you may want to ask a Career Coach about depending on your action plan for obtaining employment. Inquiries regarding these services can be made by contacting your local MassHire Career Center.
WIOA Youth Program
This program is designed to help in school and out-of-school youth between the ages of 14 – 24 to complete their secondary education, enter into post-secondary education/training, or enter into employment. Eligible youth receive comprehensive assessments, career planning, support services, alternative education, work-based learning experiences, and occupational skills training. Eligibility criteria does apply.
WIOA Adult Program
This program prepares workers particularly disadvantaged, low-skilled, and underemployed adults – for good jobs by providing job search assistance and training. The program services individuals and helps employers meet their workforce needs. Eligibility criteria does apply.
WIOA Dislocated Worker Program
The purpose of this program is to help dislocated workers become reemployed through job search assistance and/or training that builds their occupational skills to meet labor market needs. This program’s success is measured by participants’ entry into unsubsidized employment, retention in unsubsidized employment, and average earnings. Eligibility criteria does apply.
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships run the gamut from traditional building and construction trades jobs to those in the hottest technology-powered fields such as cloud computing and healthcare. View a list of employers and other sponsoring organizations offering registered apprenticeship programs in Expansion Industries, such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing and technology. Reach out directly to the appropriate sponsor to apply for a program. Click 2 for more information.
Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers
Do you work in agriculture? If yes, you can connect with a MassHire Career Center to access a full range of services under one roof. Once you have registered, staff and partners are prepared to inform you about available services, filing employment or service-related complaints and are ready to deliver, information about benefits and protections, career guidance/counseling, testing, job development, job referrals, training, outreach, and support services to assist you meet your employment or training goals. For some services, eligibility criteria applies.
Training Opportunities Program (TOP) - Section 30
The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) waives the usual requirement to look for employment for claimants while they attend approved training so they may develop marketable skills and then find suitable employment. Training programs must be reviewed and approved by DUA before applicants begin training and it is therefore beneficial for applicants to select pre-approved training programs when applying for TOP. It is possible to get TOP approval to attend training programs not previously evaluated, but DUA usually needs more time to determine whether these training programs meet TOP requirements. Eligibility criteria does apply. Applications can also be accessed via you UI Online account. Click here for more information.
Veteran Services
The MassHire Department of Career Services provides employment and training services to Veterans and their families. Dedicated staff is available throughout the state to help veterans transition to civilian employment. Veterans and their eligible spouses receive Priority of Service throughout the full array of services provided at all MassHire Career Centers. Eligibility criteria does apply. Click here for more information.
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
The TAA program has and will continue to help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade to quickly rejoin the workforce by providing them with the means to attain competitive and marketable skills for today’s increasingly competitive work environment. Click here for more information. ALL benefits provided under the TAA Trade Program are administered by the MassHire Department of Career Services (MDCS) and Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Eligibility criteria does apply.
National Dislocated Worker Grants (NDWG)
National Dislocated Workers Grants (NDWGs) are discretionary grants awarded by the Secretary of Labor, under Section 170 of WIOA. NDWGs provide resources to states and other eligible applicants to respond to large, unexpected layoff events causing significant job losses. This funding is intended to temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers, including military service members, and meet the increased demand for WIOA employment and training services, with a purpose to reemploy laid off workers and enhance their employability and earnings. Disaster NDWGs provide funding to create temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts, when an area impacted by disaster is declared eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or otherwise recognized by a Federal agency with authority or jurisdiction over Federal response to the emergency or disaster. Grants are available in certain local areas and eligibility criteria does apply. Click here for more information.
Reintegration of Ex-Offenders
We know there are barriers to securing employment when you have a criminal record (CORI). That is why we MassHire is here to help you.
Partner Programs
MassHire Career Centers partner with the following agencies to offer a variety of programs, services, and resources that meet customer’s needs.
Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
MassHire Career Centers provide services to assist UI customers in becoming re-employed. All eligible UI customers are job seekers and must be able, available, and actively seeking work. The two primary goals of the RESEA Program are to provide individual re-employment services to each job seeker and to help unemployment insurance claimants return to work faster. Permanently separated claimants are required to participate in the RESEA program. Once you have received your first unemployment check, you will receive notification to participate in the RESEA program. You will be required to register and attend a Career Center Seminar (CCS) and meet other program requirements, which include completing a Career Action Plan (CAP), conducting labor market research, tracking your work search activities, providing a resume, and participating in ongoing reemployment services. All of the program requirements will be explained to you at the Initial RESEA review, immediately following the CCS, where you will meet one-on-one with a Reemployment Specialist.
Adult Community Learning Services (ACLS)
Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS), a unit at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, oversees and improves no-cost basic educational services (ABE) for adults in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
MCB services individuals in Massachusetts who are legally blind by providing access to employment opportunities and social rehabilitation with the goal of increasing independence and self-determination.
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)
The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) helps individuals with disabilities to live and work independently. MRC is responsible for Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Living, and Disability Determination for federal benefit programs.
Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP)
The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) helps low-income job seekers age 55 and older develop the skills and self-confidence to get jobs and become financially self-sufficient.
Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)
Work Participant Program (WPP): Each DTA Transitional Assistance Office (TAO) and each MassHire Career Center has designated lead staff members to work together on behalf of DTA clients. These staff work collaboratively to ensure that Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) clients receive tailored and appropriate job readiness, job matching, coaching and employment supports. Staff work together to provide a full array of services to shared customers, including an initial assessment, career planning, workshops, and more. The successful completion of WPP services is expected to result in full-time, unsubsidized employment for customers that is aligned with labor market needs and participant goals toward a career pathway. Eligibility criteria does apply.
WPP Expansion: The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA( Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and MassHire Career Center staff will work collaboratively to ensure that SNAP clients receive tailored and appropriate job readiness, job matching, coaching and employment supports. This program is identified as the DTA Work Participant Program (WPP) Expansion. Eligibility criteria does apply.
YouthBuild
YouthBuild gives young people between the ages of 16 and 24 the chance to turn their lives around. Programs offer unique curriculum, that combines academic instruction with workforce development training, in which students spend one week in the classroom working toward their high school equivalency or diploma, followed by one week on a job site building or renovating affordable housing in their communities. It allows students to develop important academic and job skills, and at the same time, revitalize surrounding low-income areas. Ultimately, the aim of YouthBuild is not to change the young people it serves, it is to give them the tools to change their own lives. We firmly believe that by empowering our students, true community change can be accomplished.
Job Corps
Job Corps is a voluntary program that prepares people ages 16-24 with education and hands-on career training for entry-level positions that lead to careers in today’s job market.
