Bay State to Train 13,000 Workers and Create 1,700 Jobs

The announced $11,382,220 in Workforce Training Fund grants to 138 Massachusetts companies. The grants, which support up to two years of training, will create approximately 1,700 new jobs and train a total of 13,000 workers.

The two Canton companies receiving funding are Abbott-Action Inc., which will receive $69,140 and which will receive $100,550.

"To compete in the global economy, we must continuously invest in our workforce and I am proud to give thousands of our workers the chance to improve their skill sets," said Governor Deval Patrick. "Because of innovative programs like the Workforce Training Fund, Massachusetts continues to lead the nation out of the global economic recession.”

Employees are receiving training in diverse areas such as customer service, sales, machining, milling, robotics, project management, injection molding and computer technology.

“Our Administration works with companies through the Workforce Training Fund to provide their employees with essential job skills to cultivate a more effective workplace,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.  “With this training, companies create greater efficiencies in doing business, leading to more opportunities for new jobs, increased work capacity and business growth.”

Employers project that these training funds will help produce 1,700 new jobs. The Patrick-Murray Administration has invested over $64 million through the Workforce Training Fund to train over 85,000 workers across the Commonwealth in a range of critical and emerging industries since 2007.

“We are committed to helping employers and our workforce with this program and are pleased to see a wider variety of businesses applying for these grants,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Joanne Goldstein. “We look forward to new and robust rounds of applications with approximately $18 million in funds for the coming year.”

The fiscal year 2012 budget established the Workforce Training Fund as a trust fund, allowing for collection and disbursement of funds as needed by businesses, rather than on an annual appropriation cycle.

“To start, the grants are available on a rolling basis,” said President and CEO of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development's Commonwealth Corporation Nancy Snyder. "Businesses can apply when they are ready rather than in accordance with an application deadline. We also revised forms and policies to make it easy for small businesses to jointly apply for a grant."

Next year’s Workforce Training Fund will have approximately $18 million in grants available and any business that pays into it is eligible to apply for one. Program options include matching grants, off-the-shelf trainings for small businesses and new worker training grants for veterans or individuals who have been unemployed for at least six months. Workforce Training Fund grants are available for up to $250,000. Small businesses are especially encouraged to collaborate and apply. Additional information regarding the application process and options is available at www.mass.gov/wtfp.

Since January 2011, 138 companies from throughout the Commonwealth have been awarded a total of $11,382,220.25 in Workforce Training Fund General Program grants from the Workforce Training Fund to provide skills training to their workers. 13,796 workers will participate in skills training activities.

-Press release contributed by the Office of Governor Patrick.