Patrick Administration Announces Latest Round of Grants to Help Massachusetts Businesses Prosper and Grow Jobs

Patrick Administration Announces Latest Round of Grants to Help Massachusetts Businesses Prosper and Grow Jobs

$5.4 million in matching grants for private sector workforce training initiatives to benefit 66 Massachusetts companies

Beverly – Wednesday, April 9, 2013 – Continuing the Patrick Administration’s strategic investments in workforce training, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian today announced $5.4 million in Workforce Training Fund Grants during a visit to OnBrand24, Inc., a Beverly-based call center and previous grant recipient.  These grants will enable 66 companies across the Commonwealth to customize training for 4,631 employees and create 453 new jobs over the next three years.

“The Workforce Training Fund is one of our most effective initiatives for supporting businesses in meeting the demands of a highly competitive regional and global economy by enhancing the skills of their employees,” said Secretary Kaprielian.  “Over the last several years, we have seen many companies succeed thanks to these training grants and we look forward to more companies growing and excelling through the use of our training initiatives.”

This latest round of Workforce Training Fund grants builds on the Patrick Administration’s record investments in workforce training and education.  Since 2007, the Administration has awarded $84.3 million through this grant program to 1,101 projects involving more than 1,191 businesses and 103,584 workers.

“We encourage businesses, regardless of size, to contact us to learn more about the Workforce Training Fund and how this resource can help them address their business needs,” said Nancy Snyder, President and CEO of Commonwealth Corporation which administers the funds for the Office of Labor and Workforce Development.  "We are also interested in helping small businesses access the fund either individually or through collaborations with other businesses with similar needs.”

OnBrand24, Inc., an around-the-clock call center offering global services, received a training fund grant three years ago.  Once its workforce was trained in customer service and lead generation skills, the company increased revenues by 40 percent and hired more than 100 workers.  OnBrand24, Inc. will utilize more than $173,000 in new grant funding to train 155 workers and is expected to create an additional 20 new jobs.

“If we are going to grow domestically, and compete globally, we need to have the best trained, most productive workforce in the world,” said Mark Fichera, Owner and CEO of OnBrand24, Inc.  “The Workforce Training Fund is an invaluable resource in the process toward achieving that goal and keeping jobs here in Massachusetts.”

“It’s great to see businesses on the North Shore and across the Commonwealth take advantage of state programs designed to develop their workforce and create jobs,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Beverly).  “Beverly’s OnBrand24, Inc. is just one example of how Workforce Training Fund grants can result in tremendous returns for a business and its local community.”

 “These Workforce Training grants have a proven track record of providing businesses the resources to educate their employees in areas that not only produce professional development for the workers, but also result in increased productivity and job creation for the recipients of these grants,” said State Rep. Jerry Parisella (D-Beverly).  “I appreciate the Governor’s support of these grants, and Secretary Kaprielian for taking the time to come to Beverly to highlight OnBrand’s success in growing its business on the North Shore.”

The Workforce Training Fund provides grants of up to $250,000 for Massachusetts companies to use over a two year period.

 

The following is a complete list of the awarded Workforce Training Fund General Program Grant Recipients announced today (listed by community), totaling $5,445,303:

 

City	Company Name	Amount Awarded	Projected Number of Employees to be Trained	New Jobs Expected to be Created
ASHLAND	LENTROS ENGINEERING	$73,435	42	2
ATTLEBORO	STERGIS WINDOWS & DOORS	$120,700	92	6
ATTLEBORO FALLS	DISTRON CORPORATION	$107,250	77	8
AYER	NORTH MIDDLESEX SAVINGS BANK	$72,570	80	7
BEVERLY	ONBRAND24 INC	$173,140	155	20
BOSTON	WSP USA Corp	$28,800	30	5
BOXBOROUGH	SETRA SYSTEMS	$133,800	119	5
BRAINTREE	CORCORAN MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC.	$204,565	260	15
BURLINGTON	LEMAITRE VASCULAR	$169,852	47	5
CHELMSFORD	HITTITE MICROWAVE CORPORATION	$174,440	180	10
DANVERS	ELIZA CORPORATION	$221,500	154	15
DEDHAM	COLPITTS WORLD TRAVEL	$52,219	50	6
DRACUT	MAJILITE MANUFACTURING, INC.	$172,800	122	16
EAST LONGMEADOW	MCGILL HOSE & COUPLING, INC.	$66,500	33	0
EAST LONGMEADOW	SPRINGFIELD SPRING CORPORATION	$26,675	9	3
FALL RIVER	BLOUNT FINE FOODS CORP	$78,500	89	44
FRANKLIN	PIERCE ALUMINUM (Technical Assistance Grant)	$16,500	N/A	N/A
GLOUCESTER	FLEET MACHINE CO. LLC	$29,150	8	2
HOLYOKE	ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY COMPANY LLC	$30,211	21	4
LAWRENCE	JACKSON LUMBER	$47,250	41	5
LAWRENCE	SALVATORE'S RESTAURANTS	$230,200	512	15
LOWELL	WATERMARK	$51,665	41	5
MARLBOROUGH	CANVYS VISUAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS	$105,035	28	5
MARLBOROUGH	OPTOS, INC.	$110,175	48	3
METHUEN	COMFORT HOME CARE, LLC	$68,280	110	5
MIDDLEBORO	LOUIS M. GERSON CO., INC.	$69,120	45	5
NEW BEDFORD	MARITIME TERMINAL	$42,400	30	1
NEWBURYPORT	ARWOOD MACHINE CORPORATION	$101,800	79	0
NEWBURYPORT	NEWBURYPORT FIVE CENTS SAVINGS BANK	$167,464	118	4
NORTH EASTON	NORTH EASTON MACHINE COMPANY INCORPORATED	$41,500	25	4
NORTON	HORIZON BEVERAGE COMPANY	$194,070	315	20
NORTON	SOUTH SHORE MILLWORK INC	$57,780	46	12
NORWELL	BLUESTONE ENERGY SERVICES, LLC	$24,500	16	6
RANDOLPH	M.D. STETSON CO., INC.	$62,400	32	2
ROCKLAND	GLOBE COMPOSITE SOLUTIONS LTD	$67,750	32	5
SOMERVILLE	GOLDEN CANNOLI SHELLS CO., INC.	$74,900	41	12
SOUTHBRIDGE	A & M TOOL & DIE COMPANY, INC.	$75,400	45	4
SOUTHBRIDGE	SAVERS BANK	$125,695	103	3
SPRINGFIELD	TITEFLEX	$56,025	109	2
STOUGHTON	PRECISION FABRICATORS LTD.	$19,800	10	2
UXBRIDGE	LAMPIN CORPORATION	$74,100	30	2
WALTHAM	DELPHI CONSTRUCTION, INC.	$43,200	44	4
WALTHAM	RTN FEDERALCREDIT UNION	$113,561	128	5
WATERTOWN	FRESH TILLED SOIL	$49,760	32	4
WATERTOWN	J.C. CANNISTRARO, LLC.	$72,700	54	4
WEST BROOKFIELD	WIRECRAFT PRODUCTS	$74,400	43	4
WEST SPRINGFIELD	HAYDEN CORPORATION	$38,825	35	1
WESTFORD	CYNOSURE INC.	$87,845	58	75
WESTFORD	FAMILY EYE CARE CENTER & OPTICAL GALLERY, INC.	$80,965	11	1
WESTFORD	MACK TECHNOLOGIES, INC	$146,425	148	5
WESTWOOD	ACUMENTRICS HOLDING CORPORATION	$100,000	45	5
WESTWOOD	FORTY SEVEN BRAND	$171,020	85	20
WHITINSVILLE	EASTERN ACOUSTIC WORKS	$81,600	48	2
Woburn	M & K ENGINEERING, INC.	$54,875	48	2
WOBURN	MADICO INC.	$71,100	135	4
Worcester	This is a consortium grant, facilitated by the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, which includes: Dexter-Russell, Inc. of Southbridge, G&F Industries, Inc. of Sturbridge, INCOM, Inc. of Charlton, Southbridge Sheet Metal Works, Inc. of Sturbridge, and United Lens Company, Inc. of Southbridge	$250,000	158	15
Worcester	This is a consortium grant, facilitated by the Central Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, which includes: David Packard Company, Inc. of Oxford, H.T. Machine Co., Inc. of Webster, Magnetic Technologies LTD of Oxford, Schott North America, Inc. of Southbridge, Swissturn/USA, Inc. of Oxford, and T&D Specialties, Inc. of Oxford.	$189,111	135	7

 

To learn more about the Workforce Training Fund Program, visit www.mass.gov/wtfp.