MassHire Berkshires Awarded State Training Grants
BOSTON?— The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $17.9 million in grants for 1,255 Massachusetts businesses to?train, upskill, and retain over 15,900 workers.
Through MassHire, in Pittsfield, Blue Q Corporation was awarded $30,000 to train 30 workers; 4 additional jobs are expected by 2028.
In North Adams, MASS MoCA was awarded $48,000 to train 177 workers; 4 additional jobs are expected by 2028.
Participating businesses also project adding over 1,000 employees in Massachusetts over the next two years as a result of these investments. Since January 2023, the Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) has awarded $100 million to train more than 82,700 workers for approximately 3,850 Massachusetts employers.
"Massachusetts businesses are creating the jobs of the future, and we're making sure they have the skilled workforce they need to grow and compete," said Governor Maura Healey. "These investments help employers train workers, adopt new technologies and expand their operations, while creating more job opportunities for people across our state. Since taking office, we've invested $100 million through the Workforce Training Fund Program because supporting workers and businesses is key to strengthening Massachusetts' economy."
The Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's strategic investment to retain and upskill existing talent for Massachusetts' workforce. Employers across the state continue to utilize the program to strengthen workforce skills, support employee advancement, and to respond to revolving industry needs.
This grant announcement for WTFP spans 20 different industries, including $5.6 million to train 4,444 workers employed by 230 manufacturing businesses and almost $2.3 million to train 2,352 workers from 287 organizations in the professional, scientific, and technical services industry. WTFP grants are designed to support business productivity and competitiveness by providing funds for businesses seeking to train current and newly hired employees. The WTFP is funded by employers through the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and provides eligible employers with a tool to maintain a productive, skilled workforce and upskill new hires, including unemployed jobseekers.
It also includes $7.5 in General Program grants to train more than 6,400 workers from 114 employers in Massachusetts. These two-year grants are awarded competitively. Employers receiving these grants plan to add more than 1,000 additional employees in Massachusetts by 2028.?During FY26, General Program grants could range from $10,000 to $200,000.?Grant recipients contribute a matching investment of at least one dollar for each grant-dollar awarded.?Additionally, WTFP grants during FY26 also reached small businesses through Express Grants, a highly used program that awarded more than $10.3 million in grants to 1,156 small businesses, that in turn, supported training for 9,400 workers from June 2025 to April 2026.
The Workforce Training Fund Program offers grants to businesses of all sizes, though it is most utilized by small to medium-sized businesses. These grants support instruction in a wide range of skills such as ESOL, project management, software and IT, and machine set-up and operation. Businesses can apply for two types of grants through the program: 1) The?General Program,?which offers competitively awarded grants that support customized, strategic training projects over a two-year period and 2) The?Express Program?for employers with 100 or fewer employees, which provides a faster, more streamlined option. This grant program delivers training from a directory of over 4,500 pre-approved courses, making it easy for even the smallest employers in Massachusetts to access funding and respond quickly to workforce training needs.?
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