Business Grants & Incentives

General Program: Designed for any size organization, the General Program pays up to half the cost of a training program developed to meet an employer’s particular needs, up to $250,000. Employers are reimbursed when training is completed, which must be accomplished within two years. Grant recipients are eligible to apply for a new training grant after one year.

Express Program: This program will pay up to 100% of the cost of pre-approved, off-the-shelf training courses for businesses with 100 or fewer employees and 50% of the cost for larger employers. Express grants are capped at $30,000, or $3,000 per trainee per course. Training must be completed within 12 months. Employers are reimbursed when training is complete.

• For more information on the Workforce Training Fund Program, visit workforcetrainingfund.org
• Contact our organizational training and development team at UMass Donahue Institute to learn how we can help you identify your most pressing training needs, and apply for one of these valuable grants!

Provides up to $25,000 for an employer to cover the cost of safety training. The grant can cover any training that improves employee safety, including CPR, OSHA, OSHA 30, forklift operation, chemical awareness, falls/scaffolding, etc.

This federal tax credit ranges from $2,400 to $9,600 and may be claimed by employers who hire and retain veterans and individuals from other targeted groups with barriers to employment. The amount of the tax credit depends on the target group of the individual hired, the number of hours worked and the wages paid in the first year of employment. There is no limit on the number of credits an employer may claim.

In addition to veterans, the target groups include recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP (food stamps), ex-felons and Summer youth workers.

This cost-sharing federal program provides financial assistance to manufacturers affected by import competition. The program pays for half the cost of consultants or industry-specific experts for projects that improve a manufacturer’s competitiveness. These projects can include marketing and positioning strategies, e-commerce, lean manufacturing implementation, and ISO compliance and registration initiatives.

This program offers an alternative to layoffs for businesses experiencing temporary slowdowns. WorkShare allows workers in an entire company, a single department, or even a small unit within the company to share reduced work hours and collect partial unemployment benefits.

WorkShare avoids the insecurity and organizational disruption that are characteristic of a layoff. It allows a business to maintain the continuity of its skilled and trained workforce, preserve productivity, remain poised for growth and avoid the time and expense of training new employees when business improves.

Rapid Response helps businesses statewide that are in transition mode, whether they are expanding or downsizing. For businesses affected by layoffs and closings, Rapid Response can provide early intervention re-employment services at no cost to companies and their employees, including pre-layoff services to help workers shorten their transition to new employment.