Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta.
Three area companies are adding jobs and providing training thanks to state Workforce grants.
New England Die Cutting of Methuen, and formerly of Haverhill, was awarded $46,200 to train 40 workers and is expected to add eight new jobs by 2019, while Mercury Systems of Andover was awarded $191,800 to train 60 workers and add five new jobs, and Lawrence-based Infinity Tapes was awarded $66,000 to train 40 workers, adding four new jobs. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the awards last week.
“The evolving manufacturing sector and new, innovative technology continues to provide successful careers for Massachusetts’ workforce to support their families,” said Baker. “We are excited to see these funds put to work creating over 1,000 new jobs and providing additional manufacturing skills to 7,000 workers that spur personal and economic growth for our families and communities.”
Lt. Governor Polito and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta made the announcement at E Ink Corporation, Billerica, celebrating October as Manufacturing Month. A total of $11.9 million in Workforce Training Fund Program grants were made statewide to 121 Massachusetts companies. E Ink is known for producing the ePaper display most commonly found on eReaders, and has diversified into new markets, including signage, architecture and design, mobile, wearable and retail markets.
The Workforce Training Fund provides grants of up to $250,000 to companies in Massachusetts to pay for employee training over a two-year period. Grants are awarded to projects that will upgrade workers’ skills, increase productivity, and enhance the competitiveness of Massachusetts businesses. Grants are matched dollar-for-dollar by the award recipients, officials said.
Acosta said, “An important part of our job is to make sure more of our businesses of any size are able to access this great resource. Over the past two years we have increased the number of small businesses served significantly and now over 84 percent of the businesses served by the Workforce Training Fund are small businesses.”