The Workforce Training Fund is a state fund enacted into law in July 1998 and financed entirely by Massachusetts employers. Its purpose is to provide resources to Massachusetts businesses and workers to train current and newly hired employees.

1. Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund Program
David Augustinho, Ex. Dir., WIB
February 26, 2014
Orleans Chamber of Commerce

2. 1.
WTFP Mission, Priorities, and Statute
2.
WTFP Compliance Requirements
3.
Overview of Workforce Training Fund
Programs
a) Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG)
b) Express Program
c) General Program
d) Consortium
e) Technical Assistance
Cape & Islands WIB

3. 
To provide business and labor organizations funds for
training initiatives

To upgrade the skills of Massachusetts workers

To fund projects that:
◦ Promote job growth, job retention, or increased wages
◦ Improve productivity, competitiveness, and ability to do business
in Massachusetts
◦ Include employers who have made a commitment to provide
significant private investment in training during and after the grant
Cape & Islands WIB

4. 
Enacted by Massachusetts State Legislature in 1998 (MGL
Chapter 29 Section 2RR)

First grants awarded April 1999

Funded by employer contributions - $8.40 per employee per
year collected with quarterly UI payments

Contributions are collected into a Trust

Approximately $18M - $21M in collections each year

Workers must be paid while in training
Cape & Islands WIB

5. 
Massachusetts companies are eligible as well as
companies moving to Massachusetts

Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing
required with each grant

CGS good for 6 months

Gubernatorial-appointed 9-member Advisory Board
Cape & Islands WIB

6. 
All companies must pay quarterly into Workforce
Training Fund. Self insured companies are not eligible.

All trainees must be employed in Massachusetts

All companies must be current with:
◦ Unemployment Insurance
◦ Unemployment Health Insurance
◦ Fair Share
◦ Current Workers Compensation Coverage
◦ Certificate of Good Standing
Cape & Islands WIB

7. 
All companies must have a current Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Certificate of Good Standing (CoGS) issued within 6 months of application.

Applications are considered complete when a current and valid CoGS has been
submitted (along with other application materials). Not having a current a CoGS will
cause delays in the review and approval of your Workforce Training Fund application.

The CoGS must be issued from the Department of Revenue, NOT the Secretary of
the Commonwealth.
Cape & Islands WIB

8. Hiring Incentive

◦
Training Grant (HITG)
Hiring and training unemployed Mass residents and Mass veterans
◦ Maximum award $75,000 ($5000 per hire)
◦ For companies of any size

Express Program Grant
◦ Pre-approved, off-the-shelf training
◦ maximum award $30,000 per calendar year
◦ For small companies of100 employees or fewer
General Program Grants

◦
Training Grant and Consortium Grant
Customized Training

Maximum award $250,000

Companies of any size

◦

Technical Assistance Grant
Training needs assessments and training plan development

maximum award $25,000
Cape & Islands WIB

9. 
Program to encourage hiring Massachusetts residents who have
been dislocated from the workforce

$5,000 grant award per eligible employee; payment after 120 days
from date of hire (payroll documentation required)

Maximum award of $75,000 per calendar year
◦ Grantee may submit additional HITG applications for eligible new
hires throughout 12-month contract period

The grant does not pay for mandated federal, state, or municipal
training or worker orientation

Can use external training or in-house trainer
Can have HITG ,Express and General grants at same time

Cape & Islands WIB

10. 
Hired Employee must be a Massachusetts resident

Eligible Trainees: Full-and Part Time Hires
 Employees hired within 30 days of application
 Unemployed for a minimum of 6 months and has not earned more
than$6000 in gross earning within 6 month's prior to hire/ has not
been employed by hiring company during the last 6 months prior
to hire
 Veterans (DD214) required / above criteria waived for veterans

Not Eligible:
 Temporary workers / Seasonal or Contract Workers
 High School students/Non- Massachusetts residents
 Company owner(full or Partial) relative of any owner
Cape & Islands WIB

11. 
Applications must be submitted within 30 days of eligible new
hire. Applications consist of:
 Online application and Pre-screening Form (must be submitted within 30
days of new hire)
 Certificate of Good Standing (can be submitted after 30 days, however,
application will not be approved without a current CGS

Applications are reviewed and approved within 5 – 10 days
◦ Current Certificate of Good Standing and no compliance issues required for
approval

12 month calendar contract
HITG Website:
http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/hitg
John Huynh/Commonwealth Corporation
(617) 717-6912
jhuynh@commcorp.org
Cape & Islands WIB

12. 
Program for small companies to quickly and easily access off-the-shelf
training
◦ Small business = businesses with 100 or fewer employees

Company chooses from a list of pre-approved courses on the WTFP
website:
◦ http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/express
◦ Choose the “Training Provider Information” page, then click “Training Provider Directory”
◦ The Workforce Training Fund Program will not award an Express Program grant if the
employee participating in the course/training program has previously participated in the same
or similar course/training program that was funded by the Express Program.

Maximum grant award of $30,000 per company per calendar year
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
$3,000 per trainee per course limit
Businesses may submit additional applications for additional courses throughout the contract period up to
award maximum
Will not fund the same employee to take the same course multiple times
12 month maximum training per course
Can have Express Grant, General Program Grant and Hiring Incentive Grant simultaneously
Cape & Islands WIB

13. 
Must submit completed application at least six weeks before
anticipated start date of training. Applications consist of:
 Online application

Applications are reviewed and approved approximately 10
days after submission. Application approval is contingent
upon:
◦ Submission of current and valid Certificate of Good Standing
◦ Applicant passes internal compliance check (DUA, DIA)

After course is completed and paid, company/grantee is
reimbursed 50% of training cost /maximum of$3000
Express Program website:
http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/express
Kara O’Donnell-Galvin 617 717 6919
kogalvin@commcorp.org
Cape & Islands WIB

14. For companies of any size to implement a customized training
program for incumbent workers
◦ $250,000 maximum grant / Requires a 1:1 match for every
dollar requested company must have an in kind contribution
◦ exception ESOL (English as a Second Language)allows 50/50
match
◦ 2-year maximum training period
◦ Companies may use training provider(s) of choice/ in or out of
state
◦ Rolling Application Process
 Applicants are notified within 90 days of application submission
◦ Application documents found online
◦ Waiting Time between General Program Grant is 1 year
◦ Pending-- adding a second GP grant during an ongoing GP
grant Check web site for announcement and details
Cape & Islands WIB

15. Training Grant Application Materials

◦
General Program Training Grant Application (pdf)
◦
Consortium Partner Supplemental Form
◦
Training Module Details and Budget Narrative (Excel)
◦
Return on Investment (ROI) Statement
◦
Financial Statements
◦
Certificate of Good Standing
◦
Union letter of support (for unionized companies)
General Program Application Workshop

◦
3 hour comprehensive review of the General Program Application for
companies ready to apply for or are working on an application for
submission
Cape & Islands WIB

16. 
Technical Assistance Grants
◦ Assessment of workers skills deficiencies and
development of skills-based training plan
◦ $25,000 maximum 12 month maximum grant

Consortium Grants
◦ Training involving multiple businesses with similar
training needs
◦ $250,000 maximum/Two-year training duration
◦ May have an Express Grant at same time
◦ A General Grant while in a Consortium if receiving less
than a third of grant dollars/combined not to exceed
$250,000
Cape & Islands WIB

17. 

Company
Non-Profits
◦
◦
◦
◦

Community College
Labor Organization
Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs)
Chambers of Commerce
Can a lead applicant be a training provider?
◦ Yes, if lead applicant is a non-profit organization.

Can a private company that is also a training
provider be a lead applicant?
◦ No
Cape & Islands WIB

18. 
Workforce Training Fund Program
Administration

Commonwealth Corporation
◦ a quasi-public state agency, reviews, administers and
provides fiscal oversight to The Workforce Training
Fund Program for all grants.
General Program website:
http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/general
Cape & Islands WIB

19. Website: www.mass.gov/wtfp
Phone: (800) 252-1591
Robert Duncan, Sr. Program Manager, Commonwealth Corporation
Tel: (617) 717-6927
Email: rduncan@commcorp.org
General Program Information
Michael Corcoran, Outreach Coordinator DCS
Tel: (617) 626-6426
Cell: (857)753-3494
Email: mcorcoran@detma.org
Express 617 717 6927
Kara O’ Donnell- Galvin/Comm. Corp
kogalvin@commcorp.org
HITG/617 717 6927
John Huynh/Comm. Corp
jhuynh@commcorp.org
Cape & Islands WIB