Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces $3.2 Million in Apprenticeship Grants
Funds will result in 514 apprentices and pre-apprentices trained and placed in fields like health care, manufacturing, clean energy, and life sciences
BOSTON – As part of Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week and the 10th anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) today announced $3.2 million in Grants for Registered Apprenticeship Opportunities in Workforce (GROW) to 29 organizations to train and place 514 apprentices across the state. The grants, which include contract renewals and new awards, leverage more than $2 million in state funding complemented by remaining support from federal funds to train apprentices in high growth industries like health care, manufacturing, clean energy, early childhood education, and more.
Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones made the announcement at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute received $90,000 to train automotive technology apprentices with area employers like Enterprise Mobility, McGovern Auto Group, and Shaker Auto Group.
Earlier this week, Secretary Jones and Undersecretary Josh Cutler were joined at the Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week Kickoff Event by state and local officials, members of the Apprenticeship Council, and members and leaders of Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 12, who hosted the event. At the kickoff, Secretary Jones presented a signed the proclamation officially declaring November 17 through November 23 as Massachusetts Apprenticeship Week.
This week, the administration is hosting or attending a series of events across the state to highlight the Registered Apprenticeship Program as a key resource for employers to address workforce shortages and encourage residents to pursue apprenticeship pathways in sectors like construction and building trades, life sciences, health and human services, education, advanced manufacturing, and other industries.
Registered Apprenticeship provides individuals with paid work experience, classroom instruction, and on-the-job training combined with securing nationally recognized credentials, progressive wage increases, and economic mobility.
“Registered Apprenticeship is a proven program that provides jobseekers with hands-on training and skills that lead to a long-lasting, family sustaining careers” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our administration is proud to have made historic investments in Registered Apprenticeship, expanding the program to more industries and making it more accessible to populations that have been underrepresented in the workforce.”
“Registered Apprenticeship creates more rewarding and equitable career pathways for all of our residents, while addressing our greatest workforce challenges,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. “The newly announced grants will support local, regional, and statewide efforts to grow and diversify apprenticeship opportunities as well as help create new programs in multiple sectors.”
EOLWD’s Division of Apprentice Standards (DAS) is responsible for promoting, developing, and servicing registered apprenticeship programs in Massachusetts. DAS maintains more than 900 apprenticeship programs with over 11,000 apprentices currently working with the vast majority in construction but a growing number of apprentices in expansion industries such as manufacturing, life sciences, and health care.
“Registered Apprenticeship increases access and opportunity for untapped, diverse talent to pursue a career supported by technical training combined with on-the-job training,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “This proven model empowers individuals, especially underrepresented workers in fields like construction and high-tech industries to advance in a career with meaningful wages, benefits, and the skills employers need.”
The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to expanding apprenticeship. The administration’s FY25 budget delivered $2 million to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion for the construction and building trades in Massachusetts and also expand registered apprenticeship to more industries. In addition, the Healey-Driscoll Administration enacted legislation to expand eligibility for the Registered Apprenticeship Tax Credit, which offers employers a $4,800 credit for each apprentice hired.
“With the 10-year anniversary of National Apprenticeship Week, this is the perfect time to celebrate the life-changing impact that Registered Apprenticeship offers for so many jobseekers and employers,” said Undersecretary for Apprenticeship, Work-Based Learning, and Policy Josh Cutler. “Massachusetts is leading the way to grow apprenticeship opportunities across all sectors of our economy.”
“Congratulations to this diverse group of grant recipients,” said Director of the Division of Apprentice Standards Lara Thomas. “We look forward to working with old and new partners across the Commonwealth to develop transformative Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships.”
The following is a list of the 29 grant recipients, totaling $3.2 million and supporting 514 new apprentices:
Education
Bunker Hill Community College (Boston): $51,638 to place and train two apprentices for early childhood education apprenticeships.
Family Services of Central Massachusetts (Worcester): $100,000 to place and train 15 apprentices in child development associate apprenticeships.
Neighborhood Villages (Boston):
· $250,000 to train and place 100 apprentices in early childhood education apprenticeships.
· $183,500 to train and place 21 apprentices in early childhood apprenticeships and intermediary.
United Way of Mass. Bay (Boston): $20,000 technical assistance grant to explore developing youth development practitioner apprenticeships.
YMCA of Greater Boston (Boston):
· $156,000 to train and place 24 apprentices in early childhood educator apprenticeships.
· $135,000 to train and place 22 apprentices in early childhood educator apprenticeships.
Health and Human Services
Advocates for Human Potential (Sudbury):
· $120,000 to train and place 24 apprentices in behavioral health.
· $123,092 to train and place 24 apprentices in statewide licensed alcohol and drug counselor apprenticeships.
High Point Treatment Center (New Bedford): $20,000 technical assistance grant to explore developing community healthcare worker apprenticeships.
MassHire Hampden County (Springfield): $250,000 to train and place 50 apprentices in healthcare and behavioral health apprenticeships.
Hampden County Workforce Board (Springfield): $206,347 to train and place 35 apprentices in healthcare apprenticeships.
SEIU Local 888 (Braintree): $125,000 to train and place 35 pre-apprentices in healthcare sector pre-apprenticeships.
Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester): $225,000 to train and place 35 apprentices in health care and cybersecurity apprenticeships.
Manufacturing
Aimtek (Auburn): $35,000 to train and place eight apprentices in various manufacturing apprenticeships.
Atech Turbine Company (Auburn): $50,000 to train and place 15 apprentices in various manufacturing apprenticeships.
Bridgewater State University (Bridgewater): $40,000 to place and train 12 pre- apprentices in advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeships for neurodiverse individuals.
Greater New Bedford Workforce Board (New Bedford): $98,358 to train and place 13 apprentices in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and other sectors.
Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Auburn): $45,000 to place and train 12 apprentices in manufacturing pre-apprenticeships.
Metro North, Merrimack, North Shore Workforce Boards (Somerville): $276,787 to train and place 25 apprentices in manufacturing apprenticeship.
Trades
Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute (Boston): $90,000 to place and train 12 apprentices in automotive technology apprenticeships.
Berkshire Community College (Pittsfield): $12,550 technical assistance grant to explore developing HVAC apprenticeships.
IBEW Local 103 (Dorchester): $146,000 to train and place 40 pre-apprentices in clean energy.
Massasoit Community College (Brockton): $20,000 technical assistance grant to explore developing medium/heavy-duty EV technician apprenticeships.
Minuteman, LLC (Cambridge): $11,500 to train and place two apprentices in DEIA focused plumbing apprenticeships.
Pipefitters Local 537 (Dorchester): $50,000 to train and place 100 apprentices in DEIA-focused pipefitting and refrigeration apprenticeships.
Various Industries
Asian American Civic Association (Boston): $20,000 technical assistance grant to explore developing financial services sector pre-apprenticeships.
CyberTrust MA (Waltham): $20,000 to explore developing pre-apprenticeships in Cybersecurity.
CyberWarrior Foundation (Whately): $60,000 to train and place 40 cybersecurity pre-apprentices.
Massachusetts Bankers Association (Boston): $75,000 to train and place 15 apprentices in a credit analyst apprenticeship.
MassBioEd (Cambridge): $195,000 to train and place 30 apprentices in life sciences sector apprenticeships.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester): $20,000 to explore developing research graphic design pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.
The Commonwealth continues to accept applications for apprenticeship program funding for Fiscal Year 2025. For more information, visit www.commbuys.com.
Statements of Support
Dr. Aisha Francis, President and CEO, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Technical Institute:
“We appreciate support from the EOLWD’s Grow Apprenticeship program. By investing in innovative apprenticeship pathways like the degree apprenticeship at Franklin Cummings Tech, we can interlace college degree attainment with a 2,000-hour head start in a career. This workforce investment will pay dividends by cultivating a broader middle skills workforce eager and ready to accept jobs in key industries that drive our state’s economy.”
Rick Carter, Training Director for Plumbers Local 12 Education Fund and Chair of the Apprenticeship Council:
“As we kick off National Apprentice week in the Commonwealth, it has never been a more exciting time to be an apprentice. Whether the apprentice is in the construction trades to high-tech, Massachusetts has been, and will be, the model for apprenticeship for the country. The investments that the Healey-Driscoll administration has put into the programs will ensure that we are the model for other states to strive for. We are looking forward to 2025 to continue growing quality apprenticeship opportunities for all residents of the Commonwealth. Quality high paying careers is what apprenticeships provide.”
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