The mission of Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp), under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), focuses on improving workforce outcomes for youth at risk in Massachusetts. CommCorp aims to enhance the state's workforce by fostering partnerships and leveraging programming that prepares teens and young adults with essential skills and experiences for their career paths.
The Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) aims to enhance business productivity and competitiveness across Massachusetts by offering grants to local businesses for the training of both current and newly hired employees. This program targets primarily small to medium-sized enterprises that lack the resources to invest in employee skill development without external assistance. The grants focus on projects that promise job retention, growth, or increased wages; enhance a company's productivity and competitiveness within Massachusetts; and where the applicant company commits to significant private investment in ongoing training beyond the grant period. Competitively awarded to Massachusetts employers or their consortia, these grants support the training of full-time and part-time incumbent workers, distributing over $1 million monthly in General Program Training Grants.
The Workforce Training Fund prioritizes ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) within its grant programs. Effective immediately, General Program applications that incorporate workplace ESOL training are exempt from the requirement of matching funds dollar-for-dollar, provided the application meets the matching criteria without the inclusion of ESOL components. Applications that demonstrate a potential for job creation or skill enhancement for workers with low skills or wages will receive additional consideration.
We particularly encourage applications from employers listed in the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, Directory of Certified Businesses, under any of the following designations:
It's vital to note that the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, Directory of Certified Businesses contains listings from various certifying agencies including, but not limited to, the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) - State, MassDOT Office - UCP, City of Boston (COB), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), National Gay and Lesbians Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VetBiz).
Employers are urged to apply for funding aimed at adult basic education (ABE) and/or English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Moreover, we support consortium applications involving several businesses that aim to address similar training needs collectively.