The Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $10 million in grants to expand training opportunities for young people and adults as part of the administration’s multi-year effort to address skills gaps so more residents can pursue careers in growing industries and employers can hire qualified workers to grow their businesses.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, along with Secretary of Education James Peyser, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, visited Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Lexington to meet with middle school students who are exploring different career technical programs this summer.

The Governor announced $10 million awarded to expand programs for both young people and adults as part of the Career Technical Initiative (CTI). This round of CTI grants will help train more than 1,600 people for new careers in construction, manufacturing, and other trades with growing workforce demands.

“The goal of CTI is to meet the needs of both job seekers and employers by training young students and adults for careers in high-demand and high-growth sectors,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “CTI helps create career pathways for people from underserved and underrepresented populations, which is critical in our efforts to address and help close equity gaps.”

Initially launched in 2020, the Career Technical Initiative aims to train an additional 20,000 skilled workers over the next four years to help close skills gaps and meet the needs of businesses across the Commonwealth. The program provides more Massachusetts residents access to career technical training by using the state’s existing resources at vocational high schools, while simultaneously helping businesses grow by increasing the population of skilled workers able to be employed in trade and construction jobs.

The $10 million in grants announced today will fund new CTI programs or expand existing programs at vocational high schools in partnership with MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards. Each school awarded funds was required to include at least three Massachusetts-based employers that would potentially employ graduates.The grant funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

The latest rounds of Career Technical Initiative awards include:

Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical School, Marlborough, $703,540: Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical School will provide training and placement to prepare 118 participants for Welding, Diesel Tech, Auto Tech, Cook and CNC Machine Operator positions. Employer partners include Lincoln Tool & Machine Corp, Phillips Precision, Jabil Healthcare, City of Marlborough Public Works, Advantage Truck Group, Advantage Truck Leasing, Pile Drivers Local Union, DECCO Inc., and MAS Building & Bridge, Inc.

Blue Hills Regional Technical School, Canton, $544,000: Blue Hills Regional Technical School will provide training to 84 participants in the following pathways: Groundskeeping, Electrical, Welding, and Collision Repair. Employer partners include: Kessler Machine & Fabrication, Inc., Amramp, Lynch Landscape and Tree, By the Yard Landscape, Avenue Auto Body, O’Connell’s Body Works, Inc., Akiki AutoBody, Northeast Electrical & Mechanical Services, Inc., Weiss Sheet Metal, Thomas Auto Body.

Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School, Taunton, $73,230: BristolPlymouth Regional Technical School will provide training to 12 participants in the following pathway: CNC Machine Operation. Employer partners include North Easton Machine, GE Current / Hubbell Lighting, and F. H. Peterson. 

Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, $104,578: Cape Cod Regional Technical High School will provide training to 12 participants in the following pathway: Groundskeeping/Equipment Operation. Employer partners include: Cape Coastal Landscaping, Coy’s Brook Landscaping, E.J. Jaxtimer, Outerland, and TruGreen.

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, Danvers, $600,000: Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School will provide training and placement to prepare 100 participants for CNC Machine Operator, Plumbing, Carpentry, Culinary, Automotive Service Technician, Construction Laborer, HVAC Technician, and Welder positions. They will partner with Acura of Peabody, Honda North, Kelly Automotive Group, North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund, Star Construction, Groom Construction, Windover Construction, Laborers’ Local 22, Abiomed, M&K Engineering, Ramco Machine, Synventive Molding Solutions, Prattville Machine, Bacci Chocolate Design, Brooksby Village, FKM Brands, Cranney Home Services, Semper Mechanical, Lake HVAC, Breen & Sullivan, North Shore Mechanical Contractors, Cotter Brothers, Salem Metal, and KROHNE, Inc.

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, $600,000 Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School will provide training to 100 participants in the following pathways: Auto Collison Repair/Auto Body, Automotive Technician, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, Construction Craft Labor, and Electronic Mechanical Manufacturing. Employer partners include: IRA Collision Center, Tanner City Auto Body, Acura of Peabody, Honda North, Kelly Automotive Group, Carpenters Union, Star Construction, Groom Construction, Windover Construction, Local 22 Construction/Laborers Union, Bacci Chocolate dba CB Stuffer, Brooksby Village/Erickson Senior Living, Frank Beverly-FKM Brands, Harmonic Drive, Innovent Technologies, Krohne, and Salem Metal.

Franklin County Technical School, Turners Falls, $544,000: Franklin County Technical School will provide training to 84 participants in the following pathways: Automotive Services Technicians and Mechanics, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, and Welding. Employer partners include: BE. Frank Construction, LLC., M.I.B. Construction, Subaru of New England, McGovern Automotive Group, SMART Sheet Metal Workers Local 63, Boilermakers Local 29, and Airgas. 

Greater Lawrence Technical School, Andover, $660,000: Greater Lawrence Technical School will provide training and placement to prepare 110 participants for HVAC, Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Welding & Metal Fabrication, Auto Tech, and Groundskeeping/Machine Operator positions. They will partner with CentiMark, Central Cooling & Heating, Gilchrist Metal Fabricating, New England Cooling Towers, Salem Metal, and Valley Home Insulation.

Greater Lowell Technical High School, Tyngsborough, $180,000:  Greater Lowell Technical High School will provide training and placement to prepare 30 participants for Electrical, Welding and Carpentry positions. They will partner with Medford Wellington Service Co., BC Electrical Services, RJM Management, Precise Industries, MAS Building & Bridge, Townline Electric, Gaspari, Inc., and Fielding Electric Company.

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, New Bedford, $100,000:  Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School will provide training to 10 participants in the following pathway: Welding Employer partners include: Blue Fleet Welding, Reidar’s Manufacturing, and Dockside Repairs.

Minuteman Regional Vocational School District, Lexington, $900,000: Minuteman Regional Vocational School District will provide training to 100 participants in the following pathway: Carpentry, CNC Machine Operation, Plumbing, and Welding. Employer partners include: NovaBiomedical, AIS, Sweeney Drywall, Finish Installations of NE, North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Bradford White Water Heaters, Atlantic Heating and Plumbing, Rolls Royce-Naval, Ironworkers Local 7 Joint Apprentice Committee, Pile Drivers Local Union 56, and Steel-fab, Inc.


Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, Fitchburg, $599,970: Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School will provide training and  placement to prepare 100 participants for Welding, Property Maintenance, Culinary Arts, Electrical, and CNC Operator positions. They will partner with Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Interstate Electrical Services, Great Wolf Lodge, Belaire Property Management, Fitchburg Welding Company, Tim’s Fabricator’s Inc., and L.S. Starrett Co.

Nashoba Valley Regional Technical High School, Westford, $600,000: Nashoba Valley Regional Technical High School will provide training to 100 participants in the following pathways: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, and Plumbing. Employer partners include: Boch Honda West, Sullivan Tire, Triangle Service Center, Domination Plumbing, Milltown Plumbing & Heating, Generation NEXT Energy Pros, and Middlesex 3 Coalition.

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester, $279,994: Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will provide training to 40 participants in the following pathways: Culinary Arts, and Welding. Employer partners include: Lafrance Hospitality, Viscariello Hospitality Group, 110 Grill, Brew Fish Bar and Eatery, Pile Drivers and Divers Local 56, Mayflower Wind, A. D. Makepeace Companies, Brownell Boat Stands, and Horacio’s Inc.

Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School District, Palmer, $264,214:  Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School District will provide training to 40 participants in the following pathways: Electrical, and Welding. Employer partners include: IBEW Local 7, NBE Electric, Local 104 Plumbing and Pipefitting, Aquarius Plumbing and Heating, Kaco Electric, Inc., and EWS Plumbing & Heating.

Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, Northampton, $149,292:  SmithVocational and Agricultural High School will provide training to 20 participants in the following pathway: Culinary Arts. Employer partners include Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, SnapChef, and Smith College Dining Facilities.

South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School, Hanover, $640,000: South Shore Regional Vocational Technical High School will provide training to 100 participants in the following pathways: Automotive Services Technicians and Mechanics, Carpentry, CNC Machine Operation, HVAC Mechanics and Installation, and Welding. Employer partners include Quirk Automotive Group, Sullivan Tire, Collision Center, Coastal Automotive Group, Misiek Builders, JF Price, Cape Cod Lumber, Residential Exteriors Inc, Alvin Hollis, Anderson Fuel, New England Ductless, Tech Mechanical, DiMark Precision, Human Systems Integration, R&S Redco, Radio Solutions, DeAngelis Iron Works, Stoughton Steel, and Triangle Engineering.

Southeastern Regional Vocational High School, South Easton, $718,122: Southeastern Regional Vocational High School will provide training and placement to prepare 120 participants for Welding and Culinary Arts positions. They will partner with DeAngelis Iron Works, Hilliard’s Chocolate System, FH Peterson Machine Corp, Ironworkers Local 7, and Perfectly Flavah’d Café. 

Taunton High School, Taunton, $213,424:  Taunton High School will provide training to 30 participants in the following pathway: Culinary Arts. Employer partners include Bracks Grille and Tap, Fireside Grille, and Stoneforge Tavern.

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School, Franklin, $219,959.80:  TriCounty Regional Vocational Technical School will provide training and placement to prepare 30 participants for HVAC, Machine Technology, and Electronic Technology positions. They will partner with MTP Communications, S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc., Rodenhiser Home Services, Nicholson Heating & Cooling, MTP Communications, and AccuRounds.

Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical, Bourne, $399,875:  Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical will provide training to 60 participants in the following pathway: Electrical and Plumbing. Employer partners include Cape Cod Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Cape Cod, Costal Mechanical, RCA Electric & Generators, EF Winslow, Bayside Electrical, Frank Kodzis Electrical, Harwichport Heating & Cooling, MacDougall Plumbing & Mechanical, Robies Heating & Cooling, and WV Whitely, Inc.

Weymouth High School Career and Technical Education (CTE), Weymouth, $175,470: Weymouth High School CTE will provide training to 24 participants in the following pathway: Automotive Services Technicians and Mechanics. Employer partners include Unlimited Auto Service, Sullivan Tire, and JT Auto Inc. Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Haverhill, Round 5 – $140,000: Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School will provide training and placement to prepare 28 participants for Auto Collision/Repair, Carpentry, Culinary, Electrical positions. They will partner with Repairs Unlimited, Auto Body Builders, Gino’s Collision Center, Cale Wood Construction Star Construction Co., Germaine Lawn & Landscape, Nichols Village, Whitson Culinary Group, Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen, PH Electrical Contractor, Electrical Dynamics Inc., and AllPro Electric.

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, $468,000 Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, $468,000 will provide training to 78 participants in the following pathways: Automotive Services Technicians and Mechanics, Carpentry, Culinary Arts, CNC Machine Operation, Electrical, Plumbing, and Welding. Employer partners include: Fairview Machine Company, Magellan Aerospace, Northeast Testing & Manufacturing, Aero Manufacturing Corporation, Auto Body Builders, Gino’s Collision Center, Repairs Unlimited, Cale Wood Construction LLC, Star Construction Company Inc., Germaine Lawn, and Landscape, Nichols Village, Whitsons Culinary Group, Carolyn’s Farm Kitchen, P&H Electric, Electrical Dynamics Inc., All-Pro Electric, Newburyport Marinas, Hudson’s Outboard Inc. Riverfront Marine Sports Inc. Maffei Sudden Services Bilo Plumbing & Heating, Inc. Palmer Gas & Oil, Metalcrafters, Inc., East Coast Welding & Fabrication, and Metal Tronics, LLC.

Worcester Public Schools, Worcester, $270,000: Worcester Public Schools will provide training to 37 participants in the following pathway: Carpentry, Diesel Technician. Employer partners include A. Duie Pyle; Tefft Bazin; Advantage Truck Group, and The Carpenters Union – North Atlantic States Carpenter Training.