The Healey-Driscoll Administration is injecting a substantial $6.8 million into the Massachusetts workforce through grants geared towards training and placing over 1,100 workers across various in-demand industries. With 15 initiatives set to benefit, these efforts will span healthcare, education, finance, and are calculated moves by the state to bridge the skills gap and cater to the needs of both employees and employers within the region, as the Government of Massachusetts reports.
Funding comes courtesy of the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants via the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), with Commonwealth Corporation having a hand in administering these funds from the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, aimed at upskilling and providing meaningful employment opportunities to those who find themselves unemployed or under-utilized within the current workforce. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is also a critical part of the training for a portion of the initiatives, working as a key strategy to eliminate employment barriers, and these grants do not simply churn out job-ready individuals, they foster long-term career advancement, aligning job seekers with the pulse of industry demand in Massachusetts.
In a statement, Governor Maura Healey noted, "By providing job training and upskilling for underemployed and unemployed jobseekers, we are helping unlock potential, strengthening competitiveness, and connecting our world class talent with innovative companies across the state." Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll echoed the sentiment, extolling the collaborative partnerships fostered through these grants which serve the dual purpose of developing local talent while also meeting employer needs, according to the Government of Massachusetts.
Secretary Lauren Jones of Labor and Workforce Development underscored the importance of these grants during an announcement at YMCA of Greater Boston, one of the 15 recipients, outlining how since the beginning of 2023, these initiatives have already dedicated $44 million to elevate over 8,500 workers in the state, while Tom Hooper, Vice President of Sector Pathways at Commonwealth Corporation, highlighted the dual impact of these grants—they are catalytic not just in equipping job seekers but also in enabling employers to nurture a robust, skilled workforce ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow, and that's without mentioning the comprehensive collaboration between grant recipients and various partners, a list that spans esteemed banks, hospitals, educational institutions and more.
The 15 grant recipients are a mosaic of community organizations, educational institutions, and vocational service providers each meticulously selected to cultivate a skilled and robust workforce. Among them are the Asian American Civic Association, Asian Women for Health, and Per Scholas, Inc., tasked with offering niche training in sectors like banking, health, and tech. The grants paint a landscape where strategic investment meets socio-economic upliftment, with a direct line drawn from job training to job placement, a testament to Massachusetts' steadfast commitment to its workers and communities.
