For North Shore Adult Learners, The Grant Points To An Expansion Of No-Cost Training

State funding will help Essex Tech launch tuition-free adult career training programs in 10 trades by fall 2028.

By Scott Souza, Patch Staff

Aug 17, 2026 10:47 AM EDT

The programs are intended to provide adult learners with a direct path to industry-recognized credentials and careers in fields with workforce demand. (Essex Tech)

DANVERS, MA — Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School in Danvers will receive $1.2 million in state funding through the Career Technical Initiative.

The grant will fund new tuition-free career training programs for adult learners that are set to launch in fall 2028.

The funding will support tuition-free training in 10 career and technical education areas at Essex Tech: Auto Technology, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Carpentry, Construction Craft Laborers, Welding, CNC Machining, Electro-Mechanical, and Outdoor Property Management.

The programs are intended to provide adult learners with a direct path to industry-recognized credentials and careers in fields with workforce demand.

The school launched its Round 10 Electrical program this summer, and that program will continue through the 2026-27 school year.

"We are incredibly grateful to receive $1.2 million through Round 11 of the CTI Grant, which will allow Essex Tech to expand access to tuition-free, high-quality career training for adults in our community," said Jill Sawyer, Executive Director of CTAE & Workforce Development at Essex Tech. "This investment creates meaningful opportunities for individuals to gain industry-recognized skills, pursue new career pathways, and address the critical workforce needs of our region. We are proud to partner with the CommonCorp in removing financial barriers and connecting adult learners with the training and support they need to succeed."

Essex Tech's participation is part of a broader statewide effort tied to the Career Technical Initiative. The initiative is intended to provide about 2,500 job seekers with access to technical education and employment pathways.

For North Shore adult learners, the grant points to a future expansion of no-cost training options at Essex Tech across multiple skilled trades.

The new programs are scheduled to begin in fall 2028, while the school's current CTI electrical training remains in place through the 2026-27 school year.