More than $22 million in Skills Capital grants awarded to educational institutions to modernize equipment and $10 million awarded to high schools to expand Career Technical Initiative

The Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $32 million in grants to modernize equipment at career technical programs and expand training opportunities for young people and adults as part of the administration’s multi-year effort to address skills gaps so more residents can pursue careers in growing industries and employers can hire qualified workers to grow their businesses.

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, along with Secretary of Education James Peyser, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, and Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy, visited Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical High School in Lexington to meet with middle school students who are exploring different career technical programs this summer.

The Governor announced $22 million in Skills Capital grants awarded to 70 educational institutions, and an additional $10 million awarded to 23 vocational schools to expand programs for both young people and adults as part of the Career Technical Initiative (CTI). This round of CTI grants will help train more than 1,600 people for new careers in construction, manufacturing and other trades with growing workforce demands.

“Since our administration launched these critically important programs, high schools, colleges and other educational institutions throughout the Commonwealth have created and expanded numerous training programs with Skills Capital Grants and developed new training opportunities for young people and adults with the Career Technical Initiative,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are very proud of the lasting impact these grants will have on the Massachusetts workforce and the future of the Commonwealth as they prepare the next generation of innovative leaders in cutting-edge industries.”

“Skills Capital grants and the Career Technical Initiative have enabled more young people and adults to pursue rewarding careers they may not have had opportunities to pursue and have helped break down barriers to entry and success,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Importantly, these significant investments have changed the career trajectory for many adults seeking employment or credentials by providing training and skills in industries that may not have existed when they were in school.”

Skills Capital grants and Career Technical Initiative grants are awarded by Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which was created in 2015 to bring together the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, and Housing and Economic Development to align education, economic development and workforce policies to strategize around how to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in every region of the Commonwealth.

“Skills Capital grants fund technology and equipment that reflect what students will see in the workplace, giving them hands-on applied learning experiences that are valuable to them and employers,” said Education Secretary James Peyser. “Students gain knowledge and confidence in growing industries and employers are able to hire employees ready to be productive from the day they start.”

More recently, Skills Capital grants have focused on the launch and expansion of the Career Technical Initiative, which enables vocational-technical schools to expand their impact by operating programs in the afternoons for local high school students and in the evenings for workers and adult learners.

“The goal of CTI is to meet the needs of both jobseekers and employers, by training young students and adults for careers in high-demand and high-growth sectors,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta. “CTI helps create career pathways for people from underserved and underrepresented populations, which is critical in our efforts to address and help close equity gaps.”

“Employers across the Commonwealth are looking for skilled workers in order to grow their business, and career technical programs have proven key to positioning our students to pursue jobs in in-demand industries and hit the ground running on day one,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “Today’s grants will expand these important programs to both grow our workforce and create economic opportunity for young people and residents of all backgrounds.”

“Minuteman is tremendously grateful for the $2.6 million of support we have received from Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet since 2020,” said Dr. Kathleen A. Dawson, Superintendent-Director of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District. “This funding is invaluable if we are to be leaders in the fourth industrial revolution. Our students are gaining highly technical skills necessary to meet the demands of the labor market and setting them and their families on a trajectory for economic mobility.”

Skills Capital Grants

As part of today’s announcement, 70 educational institutions received $22 million in Skills Capital grants to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education.

The Skills Capital grant program was originally launched in 2015 with the goal of replacing outdated equipment and technology, mainly at vocational technical high schools and community colleges. Since then, the program has evolved into a crucial component of local workforce training efforts by expanding the number of young people and adults trained and experienced with the newest technologies used by local employers.

Since 2015, 477 grants totaling approximately $129 million have been awarded to 194 different schools and educational institutions across the Commonwealth, with many organizations receiving multiple grants over the years. Approximately 50,000 students across the Commonwealth have directly benefitted from Skills Capital grants. The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses, as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand to maximize hiring opportunities in each region of the state.

In 2020, the Administration began awarding larger multi-year grants, allowing educational institutions to apply for either one or two years of funding. In the awards announced today, Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) in Boston received $1,286,348 to launch a new healthcare and life sciences career institute at the site of the former Boston Center for Adult Education.

Click here to see full list of Skills Capital grant awards.

Career Technical Initiative

Initially launched in 2020, the Career Technical Initiative aims to train an additional 20,000 skilled workers over the next four years to help close skills gaps and meet the needs of businesses across the Commonwealth. The program provides more Massachusetts residents access to career technical training by using the state’s existing resources at vocational high schools, while simultaneously helping businesses grow by increasing the population of skilled workers able to be employed in trade and construction jobs.

The $10 million in grants announced today will fund new CTI programs or expand existing programs at vocational high schools in partnership with MassHire Career Centers and Workforce Boards. Each school awarded funds was required to include at least three Massachusetts-based employers that would potentially employ graduates. The grant funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

Click here to see the full list of Career Technical Initiative awards.

After launching the Gift Local Community Gift Card Program back in 2016, the North Central Massachusetts Chamber is proud to announce the introduction of a new Gift Local E-Gift Card – a very user-friendly and more robust platform making it even easier for merchants and card holders to help drive business in the region.

“The Chamber is always looking for innovative ways to help grow our members’ businesses and build community,” said Chamber President Roy Nascimento.  “Participating members honored the card to help drive the local economy and keep spending local.  We are now ready to take this gift card program to the next level.”

Using Yiftee as its new gift card technology partner, the Chamber will transition to the new gift card platform over the next 6 months with the original program remaining valid through December 31, 2022.  Existing old Gift Local Gift Card holders (that operated on the prior system) can convert their unused card to the new format by coming to the Chamber office.  The Chamber will absorb the processing fees for exchanging and activating the cards and, as a courtesy, will add a $5 bonus to the balance on any old gift cards exchanged for a new Gift Local E-Gift Card.

Chamber members will be hearing much more about the new Gift Local E-Gift Card in the weeks and months ahead.  Consumers can purchase the Card as gifts or for self-use, and companies can use it for employee rewards, anniversary gifts, customer appreciation, survey incentives, contests and anything they might have used a gift card for.

“Most importantly, the dollars stay local and benefit our shops and restaurants and our community,” added Nascimento.

The new Gift Local E-Gift Card is much more convenient for both participating merchants to process and for gift card holders to redeem. People can purchase the E-Cards online and email, text or print them for use in shops, restaurants and other local services. To accept the Cards participating merchants just need to accept Mastercard and process it via a key-entry (like a phone order).  There will no longer be any need for a separate web terminal for processing, dual entries into the terminal and POS system, and any costly POS integration. 

There is no additional cost for Chamber merchants to participate in the program. To opt-in, they simply run a 10- cent charge (or whatever is their minimum) on a prepaid Mastercard that Yiftee will send by email (the “Activation Card”). This serves as the authorization to participate and businesses agree to Yiftee’s Merchant Agreement found here: yifteeutil.com/merchant_agreement.pdf.   Participating merchants will be paid through their credit card bank in their normal settlement, with their normal Mastercard CNP processing fee. The Cards only work at participating merchants who opt-in to the program.

Businesses interested in accepting these Cards should contact the Chamber office as soon as possible.  The Chamber is planning to launch the new card to the public by September 1, 2022 with a marketing campaign and merchants who are signed up will be featured.

“We hope participating businesses will continue to honor the card and encourage fellow business owners to join in accepting the gift card,” said Nascimento.  “We also encourage new businesses to sign up to help drive more local dollars spent in the region. We’re very excited about this new E-card and developing new business for our members.”

To sign up to accept the new Gift Local e-Gift Card or for more information, call Lauren Goulet, Chamber Operations Manager, at 978.353.7600 or email .

STRATEGIC PLANNING: The boards of the Chamber, the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation and Visit North Central Massachusetts met in the Spring to begin working on the chamber’s next strategic plan. They reviewed the great progress made on our current strategic plan and discussed a variety of topics that are crucial to supporting our members and keeping our region a vibrant place to live, work and visit.  We would love to hear from you. What can the Chamber and our affiliate organizations do over the next three years to support your organizations and the communities of North Central Massachusetts? Please send us your ideas and share your successes by emailing .

LAND BANK: The Chamber has commissioned a planning study to help us flesh out the Land Bank concept that was recommended in the One North Central economic development plan.  The land bank concept was recommended as a tool to help spur more real estate development in the region.  It would provide the region a method to identify and acquire land for economic development, market the property, and sell/lease the land when a prospect is identified.  The study will commence this Summer and should be completed by the Fall. 

VISITOR CENTER: Our Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center in Lancaster has completed some renovations and upgrades to help improve the experience and better showcase the region to the more than 165,000 visitors that stop there each year.  Renovations include new floors, rustic paneling on the walls, new rugs and new office furniture thanks to a generous donation from AIS.  Handicap doors, new security cameras, a dog walking station, a water refilling station and new signage were also added.  Matching funds to help support the project came from a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and from the City of Leominster.

NEW LOANS: The Chamber’s economic development arm – the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation – has closed 15 micro-loans for a total of $561,500 since October 1, 2021. The loans were made to a mix of existing and start-up businesses and ranged from $6,000 to $150,000. There are another four loans totaling $458,500 that have been approved but have not closed yet.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:  During the last quarter, our team provided over 300 hours of direct technical assistance to small businesses.  We also hosted several workshops and seminars geared towards supporting small businesses, including a webinar in Spanish on marketing, a workshop on digital marketing and a session on business planning and cost control.  We also hosted a special client reception to thank our loan clients and connect them with resource partners. 

FAÇADE AND POP-UP SHOP GRANTS: The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation is partnering with ReImagine North of Main in Fitchburg and the City of Leominster to help fund façade improvements for a number of small businesses in both Cities and a pop-up shop program in Fitchburg. The project is funded through a state grant the development corporation received. 

WELCOME SIGNS: The Chamber is sponsoring the construction of welcome signs at key entrances in the Cities of Fitchburg, Gardner and Leominster.  The signs are intended to provide a positive first impression to visitors, potential investors and future residents, as well as boost civic pride.  The new signs were designed to look like traditional New England style community welcome signs, except they are made of composite for their durability and longevity.  Each sign is carved with the city’s seal and painted to match the official colors of the community. We are working with the three cities to identify key gateways for the signs.  We have selected Leominster based company Add-A-Sign to design and construct them. 

DIGITAL MARKETING: Traffic to our websites is averaging approximately 12,232 unique page views each month for FY2022.  This represents a 2.3% increase over the prior year.  We continue to be very active on social media, populating our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter platforms with our content.  Our social media platforms have a combined 21,836 total followers.  In CY2021, our social media platforms garnered an average of 217,000 impressions monthly and a total of nearly 2.4 million impressions for the year.  That represents a 20% increase over the previous year.  

JOBS BOARD: The Chamber continues to promote the WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board as a resource to connect employers and job seekers in North Central Massachusetts.  The jobs board has had over 8,000 jobs posted and more than 76,000 views since being launched.  We encourage members to post any employment opportunities they offer on the jobs board or send them to us and we will post them for you. 

ENERGY SAVINGS: From its inception in August 2014 through April 2022 the solar field on Pleasant St. has produced 10,960,426 kWh of Net Metering Credits to the manufacturers participating in the program.  Total value of these credits is $2,404,344 and the collective savings to participants totals $2,043,692.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: Developing the pipeline of talent for our members and communities to compete continues to be a priority for the Chamber. As referenced in our last edition of this newsletter, the Chamber has commissioned a workforce study to assess and recommend ways to enhance the labor pool in the region. We are expecting the study to be completed this Summer and hope it will be a resource to help develop strategies to deal with the workforce challenges faced by employers. In addition, we continue to partner with Mount Wachusett Community College and the Spanish American Center on the national Equitable Credentialing Initiative that our region was selected for through the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the American Association of Community Colleges.  

With 130 plus restaurants, 1,420 rooms to stay, 27 communities to visit and more than a million visitors annually, North Central Massachusetts is on the map as a growing drive destination for family fun, outdoor activities, and sporting events for those throughout New England and beyond.

Want to take a walk?  Hop on a bike? Or even a scooter? There’s a trail waiting for you. State and community parks, conservation areas, even former railroad routes make North Central a haven for those who like to move their bodies. Want to check out a soccer game or enjoy a night on the town with friends? We’ve got dozens of fields home to sporting events, and restaurants and breweries abound!

“We are confident in North Central Massachusetts’ ability to entice individuals and families to rethink their vacation plans. Easily drivable amenities, food and farm attractions, and arts and culture venues present an appealing and affordable alternative to hectic air travel to far-flung destinations in the U.S. and around the world,” said Henry Tessman, General Manager of Great Wolf Lodge, a family destination located in Fitchburg that attracts more than half a million people annually and employs more than 700 staff, known as Pack Members.

In 2020, a group of local business and community leaders, dignitaries and other key regional stakeholders got together to really understand what makes our region tick. The result is One North Central, a regional economic development plan to set a path forward for growth and opportunities. The group analyzed dozens of quantitative and qualitative data and factors to identify target industries as viable targets to invest in the region and grow their businesses. 

One of the top industries identified was the tourism sector. 

Prior to the pandemic, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism identified tourism as the third-largest industry in Massachusetts, providing more than 155,000 jobs and a payroll of $5.9 billion state-wide, with North Central Massachusetts offering the potential of more than 16,000 jobs in the industry and more than $185 million in direct visitor spending. Post-pandemic, tourism in in North Central Massachusetts is slowly rebounding, proving the region’s potential in the industry. 

Rick Walton, President of Moon Hill Brewing Co., and the Gardner Ale House, knows a thing or two about hospitality. His businesses serve more than 150,000 customers annually, with approximately 50 full- and part-time jobs filled. “Right now, many businesses are experiencing crickets when it comes to hiring workers, but we are doing more to retain our current workers, including offering higher wages and providing opportunities for growth in the business,” said Walton. “Rather than having a revolving door of workers, we want to cultivate an evolving family of employees.”

Tessman echoed Walton’s thoughts as Great Wolf Lodge grapples with finding and retaining qualified workers. “While local companies must spend more money on training and developing employees to run their business, I’m fortunate to have strong corporate training programs to train someone on a skill if they have the drive to work at a family resort,” said Tessman. “We are also working with our local trade schools, high schools and colleges to seek employment, but it would be great if our educators would look to providing areas of hospitality for study so we can more clearly identify our future workers.”

For Dean Hirtle, Senior Vice President, Game On Sports and Performance Center in Fitchburg, running a tourism business is fairly new, as the facility formally opened in late 2021. “Businesses have a major opportunity to invest in North Central Massachusetts,” said Hirtle. “There is a lot of growth here and when people visit, they are surprised by what this region has to offer.”

Game On is situated in West Fitchburg on more than 100 acres of land, with only 40 acres currently developed—the additional 60 acres will be transformed into additional turf fields, parking areas, and there are plans to build a hotel to accommodate the more than 5,000 to 10,000 visitors at Game On during any given weekend. “Fitchburg is getting on the map, but we need to utilize marketing opportunities to make people aware of what is happening here. We live and work in a competitive youth sports market so the opportunity here to increase visitor spending will positively impact the economy for the region.”

In addition to hosting sporting events, such as soccer, lacrosse, and basketball for teams from across New England and up and down the East Coast, Game On also serves as the home field for Monty Tech and Fitchburg High School sports. “We take great pride in supporting local athletic departments to use our facilities.” 

While Game On is fast becoming a sports destination for athletes, the region is also home to large athletic field complexes in Lancaster and Devens, which host a variety of soccer and lacrosse games, to name a few. 

Tessman said the sporting complexes provide additional tourism dollars for all the local businesses in the region, including Great Wolf Lodge, which is located just minutes west on Route 2A from Game On. “With the current and future growth this region is experiencing, we will see more businesses expand or create additional opportunities to cater to these travelers,” he said. 

Walton also believes the region has a lot to offer, where one can hike, ski, paddle, sit and relax all within the same day. “We are quintessential New England,” he said. “Every region in the world has its benefits, so it is necessary to compete with other areas to obtain the tourism dollars. We have a solid Chamber of Commerce and a solid regional tourism council, but we just need the funding to promote ourselves and get the word out about what we have to offer.”

Tessman agrees that state funding is critical to ensure success of the industry. “We have proven that tourism dollars stimulate all other business sectors, but we have to fight every year to expand or maintain marketing dollars,” he said. “Other states in New England spend more dollars on tourism and those states experience the benefits of it. While it’s unfortunate that most of the funding the state does spend on tourism marketing ends up in the Boston area, we need to start screaming a little louder here in North Central to prove our value.” Make no mistake, Tessman added, that Great Wolf Lodge has experienced eight years of success in North Central Massachusetts, with plans to invest upward of $40 million in upcoming renovations for the future. “We look forward to many, many more years of presence here in Fitchburg.”

Local business owners can help the tourism industry capitalize on the region’s assets to promote good health, happiness, and well-being. In addition to good jobs and a lower cost of living, the proximity to tourist amenities makes our region a beautiful place to live and work, which helps in the recruitment of hiring talent who do not call North Central home.

Rachel Lopez, Division President of Resource Management located in Fitchburg, was born and raised in North Central. As a local employer in the region who hosts colleagues and potential employees residing out of the area, Lopez utilizes the region’s amenities and assets to attract talent. “To attract and retain a talented workforce, you have to offer an appealing place for someone to call home,” she said. “While I am biased because I grew up here, I’m always thinking about ways to show my out-of-town colleagues and guests the best of what this region as to offer. I’d love to have someone visit the area and consider entertaining a job opportunity here because of the experience they had when they visited us.”

Lopez added she encourages out-of-town colleagues to make a family trip out of their visit by staying at Great Wolf or skiing at Wachusett Mountain, and looks to local museums, restaurants and farms when planning employee events. “While we have been on a hiatus for hosting large group functions due to the pandemic, I am really looking forward to bringing back employee outings and annual celebrations to share the local area with my colleagues in Florida.” 

“I encourage our local business owners to take their employees out to local establishments,” said Walton. “Instead of going into Boston, do a brewery tour, take a dive at Great Wolf, go skiing, and frequent our many restaurants. Also, think about buying gift cards to support our businesses, too.” 

The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts manages a robust collaborative regional marketing program to support the visitor and hospitality industry which includes paid digital marketing, social media campaigns, public relations, and participation in trade shows. Printed twice per year, The Guide to North Central Massachusetts promotes tourism and travel in the region with stories and a calendar of events that encompass some of the great events happening here. The Chamber also operates the Johnny Appleseed Visitor Center that welcomes 165,000 visitors each year.  

Roy Nascimento, President and CEO of the Chamber, believes the region is well positioned to continue to benefit from tourism and placemaking efforts. “North Central Massachusetts is a very special place located right in the heart of New England,” he said. “It’s up to all of us to share the many opportunities and experiences our region offers with our friends, family and colleagues from outside the area to not only help our tourism industry succeed but to make our region shine.” 

 

By the Numbers

Tourism in North Central Massachusetts

U.S. Adult Trips Annually
1,087,751 

Jobs Benefiting from Tourism
16,000

Direct Visitor Spending
$185.4 Million

State Taxes Generated
$9.4 Million

Local Taxes Generated
$5 Million

Top Five Origin Markets
Boston, Providence/New Bedford Area, Connecticut, New York and Maine

*Data represents pre-pandemic numbers from CY2019 and is sourced from Arrivalist Travel Data, the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and the RKG Study conducted by the Chamber.

The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce will host a new member orientation and reception on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Thirsty Robot Brewing Co. at 265 Summer Street, Fitchburg, MA.  

Thirsty Robot brews a variety of beer with a “focus on aroma-packed and flavor-driven beers, with an emphasis on New England IPAs” states owner and brewer Bill diMario.  The venue has ample indoor and outdoor seating along with an interesting menu, Thursday Trivia night and live entertainment from a variety of local musicians.   

Chamber staff will explain the many benefits and programs of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce including networking events, government affairs, educational workshops and seminars, advertising opportunities and health insurance, to name just a few.  The orientation is geared towards new members, but is equally valuable for current members who want to get the most value from their membership, or those interested in learning if chamber membership is right for them.  The orientation will be followed by a reception for new members to connect and engage with other business and community leaders.  Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided. 

“This is a great opportunity for members and non-members to learn about the dynamic nature of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce,” said Roy Nascimento, president & CEO. “Attendees will learn about the important work that we do advancing the region as well as the tremendous resources we offer for businesses of all sizes and industries.”

There is no cost to attend the new member reception, but online pre-registration is encouraged.  For more information or to register, please visit www.northcentralmass.com or contact the Chamber at 978.353.7600 ext. 235.  

Business owners unable to attend but interested in learning more about chamber membership may contact Tracy Gagnon at 978.353.7600 ext. 239 or via email at to schedule a brief introduction to the programs and services.