More than $24 million in state grants to train adult learners in various trades, including auto body repair, were recently awarded to 23 school districts in Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey’s office announced.
The Career Technical Initiative (CTI) awards aim to prepare 2,490 unemployed and underemployed adults for careers in high-demand sectors like construction and manufacturing, particularly targeting underserved populations.
At a ceremony held Aug. 5 at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, MA, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones unveiled the latest CTI installment. The program expands evening and third shift training for adults, leveraging existing vocational infrastructure.
Whittier Tech received $931,000 to train 100 students in disciplines including auto body repair, welding, advanced manufacturing, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, culinary arts, marine technology and construction labor.
Nearby, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School will use $1.4 million to train a larger cohort, while Greater Lawrence Technical School secured $1.3 million for programs spanning HVAC, automotive tech — including collision repair — electrical, plumbing, welding and carpentry to serve 132 adult learners.
This round marks the 10th cohort of CTI grants. Since 2023, the Healey’s administration and Commonwealth Corporation have allocated $53 million, projecting to benefit over 6,000 individuals. Of these, more than 3,100 have earned industry-recognized credentials, and over 2,300 have secured employment.
CTI operates under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, administered by Commonwealth Corporation, in partnership with the Executive Office of Education. It transforms vocational schools into tri shift sites, maximizing facility usage while meeting employer demand for skilled trades labor.
Another notable CTI-supported initiative: this summer, $440,000 in grants were awarded — supported by the GE Vernova Foundation — to four schools to purchase clean-energy equipment (solar, wind, heat pumps). These grants will allow 680 students and adult learners to gain skills essential to Massachusetts’ clean energy workforce.
