WESTFIELD – On Wednesday, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded $7.9 million in workforce training fund grants to 111 Massachusetts companies for training over 5,243 workers and creating an expected 522 new jobs.
Acralube Inc., D.B.A. Dicronite Dry Lube Northeast, provides businesses in the northeast with a unique dry film lubrication/low friction surface coating process. (Submitted photo)
Among the grantees, Acralube Inc. of Westfield was awarded $26,390 to train 6 workers, with 1 additional job expected by 2019.
Acralube Inc., doing business as Dicronite Dry Lube Northeast, is located at 54 B Mainline Drive. It was established in 1987 for the purpose of providing businesses in the northeast with a unique dry film lubrication/low friction surface coating process.
The grant will enable the company to provide training for AS9100C:2009-1 Certification, including all requirements of ISO 9001:2008.
“The grant from the Commonwealth of MA will enable us to provide our Dicronite process to the most demanding Aerospace, Defense and commercial accounts in the entire New England region. Without the AS9100 C training it would not be possible to serve our existing customer base as well as to expand our business to new potential markets,” said Dicronite Dry Lube Northeast office manager Robert Cullen.
Dicronite is a precision thin film lubricant for use in aviation, space, plastics molding, medical/pharmaceutical, mechanical, automotive, semiconductors, and food processing industrial applications. The precision dry lubrication is used in various applications, including friction and wear reduction, anti-seize/anti-galling, plastic mold release, co-lubrication enhancement in combination with oils and greases, and in place of conventional lubricants in high-vacuum/temperature situations.
“As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, our company and employees must maintain these very important quality accreditations. We are sincerely grateful for the continued support we have received from the Commonwealth,” Cullen said.
Other grants in Hampden County include three businesses in Chicopee: MicroTek, Inc., National Vinyl LLC and Poly-Plating Inc.; Plastipak Packaging, Inc. from East Longmeadow and Boulevard Machine & Gear Inc. in Springfield.
Two companies in Hampshire County also received grants: Arrow Machine in Belchertown and Knight Machine and Tool Company, Inc. in South Hadley.
In Berkshire County, the Railroad Street Youth Project in Great Barrington also received grant money, which is a consortium of businesses that includes Berkshire United Way of Pittsfield, Berkshire Children & Families, Inc. of Pittsfield, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, Inc. of Pittsfield and Northern Berkshire Community Coalition of North Adams.
“Workforce training grants invest in the strength of our workers and Massachusetts’s labor market,” said Governor Charlie Baker at the announcement of the grants. “We are pleased these funds can assist workers in developing the skills they need to advance their careers and help businesses foster an employment pool which better matches their growth needs.”
The Workforce Traning Fund provides grants of up to $250,000 to companies in Massachusetts to pay for employee training over a two-year period. Grants are awarded to projects that will upgrade workers’ skills, increase productivity, and enhance the competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses. Grants are matched dollar-for-dollar by the award recipients.
The Workforce Training Fund is a program of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and is administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public state agency that fosters partnerships between industry, education, and workforce organizations.
Interested parties are encouraged to visit WorkforceTrainingFund.org for more information.
