State Awards $16.3 Million in Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund Grants
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $16.3 million in Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) grants awarded to nine organizations to upskill 1,860 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations in healthcare and behavioral-health sectors across Massachusetts.
The funding will support initiatives to train and hire unemployed and underemployed individuals while providing current employees with the skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers for roles such as emergency medical technician, certified nurse assistant, and mental-health peer support specialist.
“Industries across the state are experiencing workforce challenges, but the need is particularly great in behavioral healthcare, as we need enough trained workers to provide the care that our residents need and deserve,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These grants will help address these challenges by hiring and training new talent and upskilling existing talent.”
Two Western Mass. organizations are among the recipients: Berkshire County Regional Employment Board Inc. in Pittsfield ($2,227,173) and MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board Inc. in Springfield ($1,271,342).
Berkshire County Regional Employment Board will provide training and placement services to prepare 510 unemployed and underemployed participants for medical assistant, certified nurse assistant, acute-care nurse assistant, and registered behavioral technician positions. It will partner with Community Health Programs, the Brien Center, Berkshire Health Systems, and Integritus Healthcare. This partnership also aims to assess the demand and develop programming opportunities for licensed practical nurses, develop career pathways for licensed practical nurses to registered nurses, and provide career advancement training for incumbent behavioral-health workers.
MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board will provide training and placement services to prepare 191 unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers for certified medical assistant, emergency medical technician, behavioral health direct care associate, and certified nurse assistant positions. It will partner with Baystate Health, Mercy Medical Center, O’Connell Home Care, American Medical Response, National Ambulance, Mental Health Assoc., Gándara Mental Health Center Inc., and Behavioral Health Network. This partnership also aims to assess demand and develop programming opportunities for recovery coach, behavioral resource technician, patient care technician, and behavioral-health direct care positions.
“These grants allow us to find solutions that address both existing workforce challenges and the urgent need for behavioral healthcare throughout Massachusetts,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh said. “By awarding these grants to partners in different regions throughout the state, we can help people build upon or learn new skills that will allow for them to provide care for the communities in which they reside.”