The Program Design Grants are designed to support the recommendations of Governor Baker's Economic Opportunity Task Force to provide support services, training, and job placement programs that meet the needs of members of populations facing chronic unemployment, including African Americans/Blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans, persons with disabilities, and Gulf War Era II Veterans. 

"We are committed to ensuring citizens across the Commonwealth have access to greater economic opportunity," said Governor Charlie Baker. "These grants will support efforts helping those facing chronic unemployment get the training and support they need to join or re-enter the workforce." 

"We look forward to partnering with the grantees to fully implement the goals of the Economic Opportunity Task Force. As the economy in Massachusetts grows, helping more individuals develop the training and skills needed to succeed and find gainful employment remains a top priority for our administration," added Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. 

These Program Design grants are being awarded to community partnerships of businesses, community-based organizations and training organizations. Over a three-month period, the partnerships will develop occupationally-specific training and placement programs designed to support individuals with limited attachment to the labor force in making a successful transition to employment in occupations in demand by local employers. These grants will be followed by Program Implementation grants of up to 2 years for a total of $1,637,334. 

According to Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Ronald L. Walker, II, "For the chronically unemployed, the prospect of a good paying job can seem far off. By utilizing these grants we will be able to provide the training necessary for many of these people to start a career. That is good for the person who gets the job and good for our state's employers who are in need of workers trained in these skills."

The Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF) supports regional partnerships between businesses, community based organizations, labor organizations, educational institutions and workforce development organizations to prepare Massachusetts residents for occupations that are in demand by businesses in the region. The Health Care Workforce Transformation Fund supports training and education activities that help health care employers address workforce challenges related to their efforts to meet the cost containment and quality improvement goals of Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012. Commonwealth Corporation administers both funds under the leadership of Secretary Walker.

A complete list of the grant recipients awarded by the WCTF and the HCWTF grants can be found  here.