Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $3 Million in Adult Education and Workforce Training Grants

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Nearly $3 Million in Adult Education and Workforce Training Grants 

Funds help over 600 residents gain the language skills they need to succeed in in-demand jobs, connect to career pathways, and fully participate in the state’s economy 

 

EVERETT – The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that they have awarded $2.86 million in grants to 24 community organizations, public schools and higher education institutions to enable over 600 adult learners to learn English, earn a high school credential, or earn industry-recognized credentials this school year in areas such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology and more.  

These grants fund MassSTEP programs, which provide concurrent adult education, workforce preparation activities, and workforce training in in-demand industries. The programs create partnerships among education providers, occupational skills training providers, employers, and workforce partners, and focus on setting adult learners up for success in high wage/high demand career pathways. 

“By offering high quality adult education instruction simultaneously with rigorous occupational skills training, we’re helping more students be ready to gain employment in occupations that pay family-sustaining wages,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Grants like these are a win for our students, workforce and state economy.” 

“Adult education programs help families and our economy succeed. We are pleased to award these grants, continuing critical models that tie education and workforce together in support of families’ economic mobility and reflect current in-demand jobs,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.  

Guided by state’s workforce agenda to attract, retain, and develop talent, providers of adult education and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes collaborate with local MassHire Workforce Board and Career Centers on recruitment, career services and job placement activities. Through these collaborations, the MassSTEP programs focus on career pathways identified in priority occupations through local Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) plans. 

“These grants will help hundreds of Massachusetts residents strengthen their English skills, gain confidence, and open doors to good jobs in high demand industries,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “This investment is about equity, empowerment, and ensuring everyone can contribute to and share in our state’s economic success.” 

“These programs are often marketed to the parents of children in our K-12 schools. The programs offer adults the opportunity to earn a high school credential, acquire English language skills and earn an industry-recognized credential,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. 

“This grant funding reflects the administration’s priorities outlined in the state’s workforce agenda and shared across the Workforce Skills Cabinet,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “MassSTEP combines education and training resources, helping to reduce barriers to employment and closing the skills gap among our untapped talent ready to work in Massachusetts.”  

These grants are part of the administration’s strategic workforce development investments to remove barriers to employment for work-authorized individuals and connect them with jobs and training in sectors such as health care and human services, hospitality, and manufacturing. The administration’s Workforce Skills Cabinet is working to create a coordinated statewide ESOL strategy, in addition to securing $10 million in state dollars to expand access to workforce training programs for 3,000-3,500 residents and to reduce the waitlist for ESOL services.  

“These grants will provide life-changing educational opportunities for adult learners,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I’m proud of the investments the Commonwealth has made in support of this vital program, and thank all the grantees, including Quincy Community Action Programs for their strong record of delivering adult education, job training, and family supports that help residents succeed in the classroom and beyond.” 

“I’m thrilled the Healey-Driscoll administration, in partnership with the Legislature, has allocated $2.86 million in critical adult education and workforce training grants. These highly impactful grants will help prepare individuals to meet the skill set requirements that industries like health care, hospitality, and manufacturing centers across the Commonwealth specialize in. These job training grants to Bristol Community College, the Bristol Sheriff’s Office, and UMASS Dartmouth will greatly assist constituents of my district to stand ready to meet the demands of an ever-changing global economy,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.   

“These grants will enable many more adults to receive a high-quality education in English and in in-demand fields which will help employers find qualified employees and help people to support their families,” said Senator Jason Lewis, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “Thank you to the Healey administration for continuing to support adult education and other initiatives that help build up our workforce.” 

“This is a win-win situation,” said Ken Gordon (D-Bedford), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. “It is good for our students, for our workers, for our employers and therefore for our overall economy.  It is an example of how the government can be there to provide help where most needed.” 

The awardees include: 

· Ascentria Community Services, Inc.: $100,000 

· Boston Public Schools: $191,344 

· Bristol Community College: $180,000 

· Bristol County Sheriff's Office: $98,390 

· Brockton Adult Learning Center: $168,191 

· Cambridge Community Learning Center: $100,000 

· Community Action, Inc.: $59,187 

· Hampden County Sheriff's Office: $80,000 

· Holyoke Community College: $195,188 

· International Institute of New England, Inc.: $100,000 

· Jamaica Plain Community Center: $100,000 

· North Adams Public Schools: $39,852 

· North Shore Community Action Programs, Inc: $90,000 

· North Shore Community College: $150,000 

· Notre Dame Education Center-Lawrence: $98,346 

· Pathways Adult Education & Training, Inc: $100,000 

· Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.: $143,520 

· Quinsigamond Community College: $239,587 

· Randolph Community Partnership, Inc.: $76,328 

· University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth: $100,000 

· Valley Opportunity Council: $184,560 

· Worcester Public Schools: $86,920 

· YMCA of Greater Boston: $90,000 

· YMCA of Greater Boston–Woburn: $90,000