Central Mass. businesses granted $4M to train 2,500+ workers

Photo | Courtesy State House News Service Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones

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Governor Maura Healey’s Administration issued $19 million this year in funding from the state’s Workforce Training Funding Program through October, a number including more than $3.9 million in support of training for 2,500+ jobs in Central Massachusetts.

This year’s WTFP funding has included 150 grants, and 34 of these grants were for employers in Central Massachusetts, according to the Friday press release about the awards.

In Central Massachusetts, the largest grant went to Incom, Inc. of Charlton, a fiber optics product provider. Incom received $249,255 to train 80 workers.

In the region, 18 of the grants were for amounts more than $100,000. Other large notable grants included $248,434 to Riverdale Mills Corp., a Northbridge-based wire mesh fabric manufacturer; $246,000 to Insulet Corp., an Acton-based medical device company; $241,500 to Cogmedix, a West Boylston-based medical device manufacturer; and $240,360 to Keystone Precision & Engineering, a Pepperill-based machine shop.

“Massachusetts is a great place to live, work, and innovate. Our workforce and our business community are the heartbeat of our communities and economy,” Healey said in the release. “These grants support both workers and businesses by providing the resources needed to help build a pipeline of skilled workers, allowing our businesses to remain competitive and to grow and expand.”

Overall, Central Massachusetts businesses received $3.92 million to provide training to 2,523 jobs, with participating employers expected to create 937 jobs by 2025.

“As we drive economic competitiveness throughout Massachusetts, we need to invest in our workforce to promoting existing workers to build the skills to grow a career and for employers to thrive,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones said in the statement. “Workforce training fund grants are a critical tool in our toolbox for employers to upskill their workforce in vital areas such as ESOL, technology, DEI training, management, and many other areas that supports professional development and training for Massachusetts workers.”

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce applauded the awarding of the grants.

"At the Chamber, we hear time and time again that above all, our member businesses are in need of a quality workforce, regardless of the size or sector,” Timothy Murray, president and CEO of the chamber said in the release. “The grant announced by Secretary Jones will offer the much-needed resources to our Massachusetts businesses to fund training for current and newly hired employees."

Grants from the state’s Workforce Training Fund Program are available for all businesses regardless of size, with the mission of promoting job growth and retention in Massachusetts. The size of the grants range from $10,000 to $250,000.