BOSTON – The Patrick Administration today announced $2.8 million in Workforce Training Fund General Program Grants, providing for the training of 3,106 current and newly hired employees at 37 companies across the Commonwealth. Savage Arms was awarded $179,600 for 400 employees to be trained, and 48 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of training.The grants, which are for up to two years, serve as a resource for businesses to increase the skill set of their incumbent employees and provide valuable training to the workers. As a result of these awarded grants, participating companies expect to create 263 new jobs by the end of 2015.
“By investing in workforce training, we are increasing opportunity and skills for workers while also making Massachusetts companies more competitive and sustainable,” said Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Joanne F. Goldstein. “The Workforce Training Fund is an effective resource within the business community as we continue to encourage growth and development across all regions and economic sectors in Massachusetts.”
Wednesday’s announcement supports companies located in 30 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. Of the 33 awarded grants, one is a technical assistance grant, a type of planning grant awarded to companies preparing to implement workforce training grants and initiatives. Additionally, four grants were awarded to consortium projects involving multiple employers with common training needs.
This latest round of Workforce Training Fund grants build on the record investments in workforce training and education made by the Patrick Administration in recent years. Since 2007, the Administration has awarded $54.6 million for 722 grants to employers to train 66,211 workers within the manufacturing industry, alone. Today’s announced funding is the latest round of Workforce Training Fund Program grants that will further support manufacturers as well as initiatives to enhance skills for employees in other sectors including financial services, engineering and hospitality.
“It’s a great opportunity for our employees,” said Vince Carbone, vice president of operations at Savage Arms. “Over the past eighteen months, we’ve hired 200 new employees, and this grant will help those employees with lean manufacturing and improving their skills.”
Carbone went on to say that the grant will improve productivity in manufacturing and will benefit employees at all levels of the organization.
“We encourage businesses, regardless of size, to contact us to learn more about the Workforce Training Fund and how this resource can help them to address their business needs,” said Nancy Snyder, President and CEO of EOLWD’s Commonwealth Corporation. “We are also interested in helping small businesses access the fund through consortiums that can be organized by third party workforce and training organizations.”
To learn more about the Workforce Training Fund Program, visit www.mass.gov/wtfp.
