{"id":14870,"date":"2023-07-17T16:14:43","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T16:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commcorp.org\/?post_type=news&p=14870"},"modified":"2026-02-17T20:14:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:14:11","slug":"3-4milliondonellygrants","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/commcorp.org\/es\/news\/3-4milliondonellygrants\/","title":{"rendered":"$3.5 Million in Donnelly Grants to Eliminate Barriers to Employment, Increase Access to High-Quality Job Training"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The\u00a0Healey-Driscoll Administration\u00a0today\u00a0announced\u00a0$3.5 million\u00a0new\u00a0Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grants\u00a0for seven initiatives across the state. The grants,\u00a0funded through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF)\u00a0and distributed by the Commonwealth Corporation,\u00a0aim\u00a0to\u00a0increase access to well-paying jobs for residents facing employment\u00a0barriers and\u00a0improve the competitive stature of Massachusetts businesses by enhancing worker skills and productivity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones joined local officials, representatives of the Commonwealth Corporation, and program participants to announce the awards at Greater Lawrence Technical School.\u00a0<\/b>The school received $369,000 to provide training and placement services for 48 unemployed and underemployed participants in Medical Assistant positions in partnership with Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Beth Israel Lahey Health.<\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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\u201cThese grants will connect Massachusetts residents who typically face higher barriers to obtaining employment with the vital training and skills they need to create a meaningful career pathway while also helping to ensure that employers have access to the skilled talent they need,\u201d said\u00a0Governor Healey<\/b>. \u201cMaking the match between skills training and labor demand is critical for supporting our workers, employers, economy, and competitiveness.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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\u201cThese organizations\u00a0are supporting our workforce\u00a0by\u00a0attracting those who are unemployed, underemployed, or experiencing barriers to employment and providing the necessary skills\u00a0they need to succeed,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>Lieutenant Governor\u00a0Driscoll<\/b><\/span>. \u201cThese grants not only help\u00a0connect people with job training in critical industries\u00a0but helps expand our skilled talent pool for employers.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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The grants are part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration\u2019s strategic investment in the Massachusetts workforce by developing programs that support individuals facing barriers to employment, such as lack of formal schooling, language barriers, or past involvement with the criminal justice system. The grants will support seven initiatives to develop and implement employer-responsive programs to place participants into unsubsidized employment in targeted occupations and create opportunities for underemployed and unemployed individuals to access high-quality, in-demand training programs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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\u201cThese partnerships\u00a0will help\u00a0create life-changing opportunities for Massachusetts\u00a0jobseekers\u00a0and\u00a0play a critical role in bridging the skills gap\u00a0while\u00a0addressing the needs of both workers and employers in the Commonwealth,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Secretary of Labor\u00a0and Workforce Development Lauren Jones<\/b>.\u00a0\u201cThe Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to\u00a0strengthening the\u00a0Commonwealth\u2019s competitiveness by closing the workforce skill gap, investing in workforce development, and re-engaging underemployed and underrepresented\u00a0individuals.\u00a0We\u00a0look forward to continuing to work with these partners as they implement their initiatives.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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The proposed grant recipients and dollar amount of the award are as follows:<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n