State grants $9M in workforce training; Worcester receives $650K

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By Sam Bonacci

In a move that the Baker-Polito administration says will result in more jobs, $8.9 million has been distributed to 87 companies and training organizations around the state to help train more than 7,500 workers, with Worcester organizations receiving roughly $650,000 in training funds.

The Workplace Training Fund will allow employees to succeed at their jobs, but also allow the companies to grow as they round out their company with qualified workers.

From that distribution, Worcester companies will receive about $650,000 with Century Homecare LLC being awarded $250,000 to train 20 workers with 20 additional jobs expected by 2017. Similarly, Rotman’s Furniture and Carpet was awarded $159,232 to train 160 workers and Worcester Polytechnic Institute was awarded $248,030 to train 568 workers, with each of those organizations expecting to add four and 15 additional jobs by 2017, respectively.

Other local recipients and their awards are:

RH White Companies, Inc., of Auburn, awarded $118,730 to train 188 workers;
Flintec, Inc., of Hudson, awarded $67,200 to train 29 workers;
Grand Image, Inc., of Hudson, awarded $90,200 to train 41 workers;
Electronic Environments Co. LLC, of Marlborough, awarded $109,850 to train 100 workers;
NEC Energy Solutions, Inc., of Westborough, awarded $91,400 to train 137 workers

The Workforce Training Fund is a program of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public state agency that fosters partnerships between industry, education and workforce organizations to strengthen skills for youth and adults in order to help them thrive in the state’s economy. The fund provides grants up to $250,000 to companies of any size in Massachusetts to pay for workforce training over a two-year period. Grants are awarded to projects that will upgrade workers' skills, increase productivity and competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses, and create additional jobs. Grants are matched dollar-for-dollar by the recipients.