State Awards $5.9 Million to Train, Hire 951 Workers Statewide

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration 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 healthcare, logistics, education, information technology, and more.

“Across Massachusetts, employers are looking for skilled workers, and residents are looking for opportunities to build successful careers,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “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.”

The Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants are funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and administered by Commonwealth Corp. 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 job seekers experience.

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

“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,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones said. “By partnering with industry, training providers, and regional organizations, we’re creating talent pipelines for occupations that are essential to Massachusetts’ economy. From healthcare 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.”

Molly Jacobson, president and CEO of Commonwealth Corp., added that “we recognize and appreciate these 12 grantees for their dedication to expanding economic opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. 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.”

Among the 12 grant recipients, three are located in Western Mass.:

Berkshire County Regional Employment Board Inc. in Pittsfield will receive $500,000 to provide training and placement services to 172 unemployed and underemployed participants for medical assistant and nursing assistant roles, partnering with Community Health Programs Inc. and Berkshire Health Systems.

MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board Inc. in Springfield will receive $500,000 to provide training and placement services to prepare 85 unemployed and underemployed participants for medical assistant, nursing assistant, and emergency medical technician roles, partnering with Caring Health Center, Baystate Health, National Ambulance, Baystate Ob/Gyn, Holyoke Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and Hilltown Community Health Center.

UMass Amherst will receive $500,000 to provide training and placement services to prepare 52 unemployed and underemployed participants for food preparation worker roles, partnering with Lawrence Public Schools and UMass Amherst Auxiliary Enterprises.