WORKFORCE TRAINING FUND PROGRAM
(WTFP)
INFORMATION SESSION
Deval L. Patrick, Governor
Michael Corcoran
Outreach Coordinator
Workforce Training Fund Program
Rachel Kaprielian, Secretary Executive Office of
Labor and Workforce Development
Alice Sweeney, Director,
Department of Career Services
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Rev. 08-18-14
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WTFP Mission, Priorities, and Statute
WTFP Compliance Requirements
Overview of Workforce Training Fund
Programs
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
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Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG)
Express Program
General Program
Consortium
Technical Assistance

To provide business and labor organizations funds
for training initiatives
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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
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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
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Contributions are collected into a Trust
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Approximately $18M - $21M in collections each year
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Workers must be paid while in training
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Department of Revenue Certificate of Good
Standing required with each grant
CGS good for 6 months
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Gubernatorial-appointed 9-member Advisory
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Massachusetts companies are eligible as well as
companies moving to Massachusetts
Board
Rolling on line application process for all grants
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All companies must pay quarterly into Workforce
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All trainees must be employed in Massachusetts
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All companies must be current with:
Training Fund. Self insured companies are not
eligible.
◦ Unemployment Insurance
◦ Unemployment Health Insurance
◦ Fair Share
◦ Current Workers Compensation Coverage
◦ Certificate of Good Standing
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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.

Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG)
◦ Hiring and training unemployed Mass residents and Mass veterans
◦ Maximum award $40,000 ($5,000 flat fee per hire)
◦ For companies of any size
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Express Program Grant
◦ Pre-approved, off-the-shelf training
◦ maximum award $30,000 per calendar year/2 year contract
◦ For small Mass companies of 100 employees or fewer
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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
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Program to encourage hiring Massachusetts residents who have
been dislocated from the workforce (18 minimum age requirement)
$5,000 grant award per eligible employee; payment after 180
calendar days from date of hire (payroll documentation required).
Minimum of $7,000 in gross wage earned at the 180 days from date
of hire.
Maximum award of $40,000 per calendar year
◦ Grantee may submit additional HITG applications for eligible new
hires throughout 12-month calendar contract no waiting period
between grants.

◦ The grant does not pay for mandated federal, state, or municipal
training or worker orientation
Can use external training or in-house trainer
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Can have HITG and General grants at same time
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Hired Employee must be a Massachusetts resident
Eligible: Full-and Part Time($7,000 gross wage )
 Unemployed a minimum of 6 months
 Underemployed-In the 6 months prior to hire has not
earned more than$6,000 in gross earning/ has not been
employed by hiring company during the last 6 months prior
to hire
 6 month waiting period waved for veteransrequired/DD214, letter of service from dept. of Veterans
Affairs or letter from National Personnel Records Center.
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Not Eligible:
 Temporary workers / Seasonal or Contract Workers
 High School students/Non- Massachusetts residents
 Company owner(full or Partial) relative of any owner
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Applications must be submitted within 60 days of eligible
new hire. Applications must consist of the following
documentation:
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Online application
Pre-screening Form
Certificate of Good Standing (not older then 6 months)
Veterans Status Documentation (if applicable)
Applications are reviewed and approved within 5 – 10 days
12 month calendar contract
Reimbursement:
 All Reimbursement Requests must be submitted within 30 days of
the date that the new hire has met the retention requirement
HITG Website:
http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/hitg
Commonwealth Corporation
(617) 717-6912
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
Program for small companies to quickly and easily access off-theshelf training
◦ Small business = Mass. businesses with 100 or fewer employees
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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.
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Maximum grant award of $30,000 per company per calendar year
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$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
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Can have Express Grant, General Program Grant and Hiring Incentive Grant simultaneously
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Must submit completed application at least six weeks
before anticipated start date of training. Applications
consist of:
 Online application
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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)
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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
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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 matching
contribution
◦ Primary match wages(hourly rate +fringe)paid while in training
◦ 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
◦ No preapproval process
◦ 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
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Training Grant Application Materials
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◦
General Program Training Grant Application (pdf)
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Training Module Details and Budget Narrative (Excel)
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Return on Investment (ROI) Statement
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Financial Statements
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Certificate of Good Standing
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Union letter of support (for unionized companies)
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Consortium Partner Supplemental Form
General Program Application Workshop
Free 3 hour comprehensive review of the General Program
Application for companies ready to apply for or are working
on an application for submission(refer to web site for dates,
times and locations)
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If under 100 employees (full time and part time) a company
can have the HITG, Express and General Program grants at the
same time.
If over 100 employees (full time and part time) a company can
have the HITG and General Program grants at the same time.
If a company has a Consortium Grant and the their award is
1/3 or less of the Consortium grant they can also have a
General Program grant with a max. of two grants with total
awarded capped at $250,000. Must be different training.
If a company finds unforeseen need for additional training a
company can request adding training to an existing General
Program grant provided it doesn’t go over the cap total of
$250,000 and must be completed within the existing contract.
There is no guarantee of approval. The request must go
through the grants manager at Commonwealth Corporation.
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Technical Assistance Grants
◦ Assessment of workers skills deficiencies and
development of skills-based training plan
◦ $25,000 maximum 12 month maximum grant
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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
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The pool of entities eligible to receive and administer a consortium
grant (with multiple partners) from the Workforce Training Fund
General Program has been expanded to include:
 Non-Profits
◦ Charitable organization with expertise in training, business
leagues, industry associations and Chambers of Commerce
 Community College
 Labor Organization
 Other public entities/intermediary organizations such as Workforce
Investment Boards (WIBs) with expertise in workforce development
and/or industry training needs
All employers whose employees will take part in training must comply with existing
eligibility criteria and program guidelines. The designated lead organization may use up
to 10% of the total grant to pay administrative costs.
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The Lead Applicant files the consortium application on
behalf of the partners, assures all required application
documentation such as financial, Mass Dept. of Revenue
Certificates of Good Standing, cover letter, budgetary
and Return of Investment (ROI) are submitted with the
application.
Upon approval of a consortium grant the lead applicant
will execute a contract on behalf of the consortium. File,
in a timely manner, all required paperwork for
reimbursement, pay training providers, track training
and attendance and submit the final report upon
completion of the grant.
General oversight of the Workforce Training
Fund/Department of Labor and Workforce
Development
Administration of Program:
 Commonwealth Corporation
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◦ 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
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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
These are cash grants not tax credits. Grant income
may result in additional tax liability Companies should
check with their accountants
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