Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $2.25 Million to Connect Returning Residents with Jobs and Career Training

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $2.25 Million to Connect Returning Residents with Jobs and Career Training

Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program supports job training and placement within culinary, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare

 

Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced $2.25 million in Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants to 12 organizations that will provide job training, career support and employment opportunities to 445 formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities.

The programs will connect participants with employers across industries including construction, manufacturing, culinary and hospitality, health care, transportation and other fields.

Since January 2023, the Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with Commonwealth Corporation, has awarded nearly $10 million in Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grants to connect formerly incarcerated individuals across Massachusetts with job training, career support, and employment opportunities. These investments are projected to serve more than 1,400 individuals as they re-enter their communities.

“When people return to their communities, they should have a real opportunity to get a good job, support their families and build a stable future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants connect people with the training and experience they need to succeed and with employers that are ready to hire.”

“Successful reentry means making sure people have the tools and opportunities to move forward,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These programs bring together community organizations, public safety partners and employers to connect people directly with training and jobs. That helps returning residents build economic stability while creating stronger communities across Massachusetts.”

Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones joined state and local officials, grantees, and workforce partner organizations at Project Place in Boston to announce the awards. Project Place received $200,000 to provide training to 50 returning residents for jobs in transportation and warehousing, maintenance, and manufacturing Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as the transportation and warehousing, maintenance, and manufacturing industry at New Market Business Improvement District and Aramark.

“Removing barriers to employment and expanding access to skills training are essential as we build an inclusive and accessible workforce,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. “Through these grants, we are investing in partnerships that connect formerly incarcerated individuals with industry-relevant training, supportive services, and employers ready to hire skilled talent. These investments support successful reentry while helping employers meet their workforce needs across the Commonwealth.”

This latest round of Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Grants Program was funded by Fiscal Year 2026 grant funding through the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public agency within EOLWD. This grant program, which received continued funds in the FY27 budget, aims to improve workforce outcomes for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration.

 

“These grants represent a critical investment in rebuilding lives and strengthening communities, said Molly Jacobson, President & CEO of Commonwealth Corporation. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the committed partners who are providing indispensable training and support services for our returning citizens. We also commend the employers for their leadership in offering meaningful employment opportunities, creating inclusive pathways that transform reentry into a true second chance that benefits both our returning citizens and the economy.”

Grant recipients

 

• Blue Horizon Boxing Inc., Boston, MA ($161,689) will partner with the Massachusetts Probation Service (Brockton District Court) to offer a training program to 36 returning citizens with a focus on facilities maintenance and environmental services. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as maintenance assistants, facilities technician trainees, environmental services workers, and building operations support staff at AvalonBay Communities and Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.
  
  
• Community Action Pioneer Valley, Inc., Greenfield, MA ($200,000) will partner with Franklin County and Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office to offer a training program to 42 returning citizens with a focus on the manufacturing, information, construction, culinary, social services, and healthcare industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as line cooks, recovery coaches, custodial workers, weatherization techs, and production occupations at Franklin Co. Community Development Corporation, Fitzwilly’s Restaurant, Holyoke Pizza, Nortek Inc., Whitman Properties, and AM Lithography.
  
  
• Community Servings, Inc., Jamaica Plain, MA: ($90,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and Suffolk Superior Court Probation Department to offer a training program to 10 returning citizens with a focus on the culinary and hospitality industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in food production and service-related occupations at Max Ultimate Food, City Experiences- Boston Harbor City Cruises, and Tatte Bakery and Cafe.
  
  
• Community Workshops, Inc. dba Community Work Services (CWS), Boston, MA ($250,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and Massachusetts Department of Corrections to offer a training program to 50 returning citizens with a focus on the culinary, hospitality, commercial cleaning, and trades industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as food prep assistant, server/waitstaff, cashier, restaurant host, front desk clerk, construction craft laborer, and site workers at Tatte Bakery & Café, The W Hotel and The Hyatt Hotel, and Boston Building Resource Center.
  
  
• Interseminarian-Project Place, Inc., Boston, MA ($200,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Community Resources for Justice and Massachusetts Department of Corrections to offer a training program to 50 returning citizens with a focus on the transportation and warehousing, maintenance, and manufacturing industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as warehouse associates, material handlers, replenishment/ fulfillment associates, delivery drivers, order picker/stockers, and facilities maintenance technicians at New Market Business Improvement District and Aramark.
  
  
• Justice Resource Institute, Inc./STRIVE Boston, Needham/Jamaica Plain, MA ($200,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to offer a training program to 60 returning citizens with a focus on the healthcare and transportation industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as security staff, direct & relief staff, therapeutic mentors, licensed CDL truck & heavy equipment operators, shuttle drivers, and track laborer workers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Keolis America Transport, Inc.
  
  
• Maverick Landing Community Services, Inc., Boston, MA ($200,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department to offer a training program to 35 returning citizens with a focus on the culinary and hospitality industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as prep cook, line cook, food service worker, kitchen assistant, dishwasher/utility worker, catering assistant, and other food service positions at YMCA of Greater Boston and Cesaria Restaurant.
  
  
• New England Center for Arts & Technology, Inc. (NECAT), Boston, MA ($200,000) will partner with Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department and Boston Pre Release, Suffolk Superior Court, Plymouth House of Correction, the Department of Youth Services, and Roxbury District Court to offer a training program to 70 returning citizens with a focus on the culinary industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in roles as prep cooks, line cooks, catering cooks, sous chefs, and station chefs at Tatte Bakery & Café, NECAT Catering Social Enterprise (NECAT Caters), and Haley House Bakery & Café.
  
  
• Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), Worcester, MA ($249,769) will partner with Worcester County Sheriff’s Office to offer a training program to 20 returning citizens with a focus on the culinary and hospitality industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in food preparation roles at Snapchef and Latin American Health Alliance - Hector Reyes House.
  
  
• Second Street Second Chances, Inc., Pittsfield, MA ($84,712) will partner with Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office to offer a training program to 12 returning citizens with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in manufacturing and welding roles at Onyx Specialty Papers and Hi-Tech Mold and Tool.
  
  
• The Michael English House, Inc., South Yarmouth, MA ($213,830) will partner with Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office to offer a training program to 36 returning citizens with a focus on the construction industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in carpenter roles at Shepley Wood Products, Cape Cod Carpentry Guild, Inc., Whitcomb Building and Remodeling, Zinck Concrete, and Encore Construction.
  
  
• We Reach Inc., East Boston, MA ($213,830) will partner with Essex County Sheriff’s Department / STAR Program to offer a training program to 24 returning citizens with a focus on the animal care industry. Successful program graduates will be placed roles as entry-level professional pet groomers, mobile pet groomers, and grooming business/customer service associates at The Doggy Port and Happy Tails.