The WTFP provides grants to MA businesses to fund training for current and newly hired employees. In order to qualify, businesses must pay into the Fund. The program is targeted to small or medium-sized businesses that would not be able to invest in improving employee skills without the WTFP. The WTFP has three programs: General Program Training Grants, Express Grant Program, and Direct Access Program as well as Technical Assistance Grants.
General Program Training Grants
Open to all business sizes, this program offers businesses grants of up to $250,000 in skills training for current and newly hired workers. Employers, employer organizations, labor organizations, training providers, and a consortia of such entities are encouraged to apply. Training programs must be completed within two years and applicants can use the training provider of their choice.
The Direct Access Program
Agency: Commonwealth Corp.
The program addresses smaller-scale training needs by making training slots available free of charge to businesses that are eligible for the WTFP. Businesses should consider the pilot program when training needs cannot be easily met by a consortium or Express Program grant.
One-Stop Career Centers
Type: Recruiting Assistance
Agency: Mass Office of Labor and Workforce
The Commonwealth’s network of centers are capable of providing a business with: access to qualified candidates, applicant pre-screening, posting of jobs, assistance with small and large-scale recruitment activities, help planning job fairs and testing and assessment of candidates.
Safety Training Grant
Agency: Mass. Office of Business Development
The objective of this program is to promote safe and healthy conditions in the workplace by awarding state funds to eligible applicants who submit responses designed to provide and improve safety education and training in Occupational Safety and Health to employers/employees within the Commonwealth covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law (M.G.L. Chapter 152). The maximum grant award per company is $25,000.
Resilient Coders
Resilient Coders teachers young people from Boston’s underserved communities how to code and run a web development shop that employes them. Students partake in a seven week bootcamp to gain the technical skills required for coding and the soft skills needed to succeed in a job.
Year Up
Year Up offers a one-year intensive training program to urban young adults. The program provides a mix of hands-on skills development, mentorship, coursework eligible for college credit, and a corporate internship to prepare them for the real-world.
TechGen
Type: Tech Internships
TechGen is a free program that connects Massachusetts’ college students with local technology companies for internship and networking opportunities. Students and companies are able to use the TechGen system to explore, post, and match to internship opportunities.
MassTech Intern Partnership (MTIP)
Type: Matching Stipend
Agency: MassTech Collaborative
MTIP is a program that provides reimbursable matching stipends to digital technology companies that are starting and scaling-up across Massachusetts that hire local college students into summer internships. The program is available to Massachusetts-based startups with fewer than 100 employees seeking to hire a Massachusetts college intern for the summer. Companies can be reimbursed for up to 50% of the intern’s gross salary for up to 2 interns and a total of $3,200/year per individual intern.
TechHire
Type: Workforce Training
Agency: Network
A regional consortium of Boston employers and training providers are blazing the path to IT jobs, led by the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), the City’s workforce development board, and SkillWorks, a regional funders’ collaborative. Companies from a range of sectors-including healthcare, education, government, technology, and finance-support the initiative.
Financing
Emerging Technology Fund
Type: Loan & Guarantee
Agency: MassDevelopment
The Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) provides MA startups or emerging tech companies with financing for working capital, manufacturing facilities, and equipment. The ETF specifically offers: loans up to $2.5M and loan guarantees up to $1M. Eligible companies must be starting or expanding manufacturing operations in MA, market demand, and proven fundraising, among other requirements. 100% of cost of purchase of new or used telecommunications and information technology equipment, software, and related installation costs.
Early Stage Fund
Type: Seed Investment
This program provides first round/initial investments of $250K to $500K in Series A equity capital with the potential for follow-on funding.
START PROGRAM
Type: Grant
Agency: MassVentures
The MassVentures START program, a branch of the national program, was initiated in 2012 to assist Massachusetts-based companies in commercializing technologies developed under SBIR and STTR contracts. Program grants range from $100-$500K depending on the strength of commercialization efforts.
Collaborative Workspaces
Framework
Framework is a shared workspace in the heart of downtown Pittsfield. Conveniently located in the bustling Upper North neighborhood. Framework features first-class tools and services for business and individuals including high speed internet, open and private work areas and meeting spaces.
Massachusetts Innovation Bridge
Created in partnership with the Commonwealth and The MITRE Corporation, the Massachusetts Innovation Bridge connects local businesses, nonprofits, and academic institutions with federal opportunities. Through the Innovation Bridge, federal agencies will create new relationships with innovative academic institutions, thought leaders, established companies, and with companies that previously did not work with the federal government. Together, they will discover innovative ideas, products, and services to enhance federal agency missions. The new collaborative workspace will also give Massachusetts companies, higher education institutions, and nonprofits access to new federal business opportunities.
Greentown Labs
Greentown Labs serves the needs of cleantech entrepreneurs by offering customized 33,000 sq. ft. facility that offers co-located office space and prototyping lab space. Since 2011 startups at Greentown Labs have collectively raised more than $200M in funding.
North Shore InnoVentures
NSIV enables success by working with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality. Operating a 13,000 sq. ft. technology business incubator focusing on clean tech and life science sectors. Since 2008 at NSIV more than $190M in investments, awards, and grants and $68M from exits.
Hack/Reduce
Hack/Reduce is the epicenter of the Big Data community in Boston by working with top-tier companies and talent to help them build the relationships they need to found or join the next great technology companies. Using the power of the AngelList platform, when a lead finds a company they want to invest in, hack/secure backs that lead’s investment with up to $250,000 of additional investment capital.
TechSpring
Launched in 2014 by Baystate Health, TechSpring provides technology companies access to a real, live health system using a proven process and platform to test and validate digital health solutions. 12,000+ employees work across a region-wide integrated delivery network, five hospitals and 1000 beds, including a flagship teaching hospital and 90+ medical practices.
Quincy Center for Innovation
Agency: Public
The Quincy Center for Innovation (QCI) is a unique co-operative work environment supporting start-ups and early phase companies. Members will have access to mentors and individuals who are there to help you plan and grow your business.
Roxbury Innovation Center
The Roxbury Innovation Center is “a civic experiment that will support local economic development by encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.” The Center is designed as a space for “groups to provide programs that support innovators, entrepreneurs and business founders.”
UMass Venture Development Center
Type: Incubator
The VDC is a paid workspace for tech and biotech ventures. Hosting as well entrepreneurs-in-residence, with a special program for international founders to obtain a cap-exempt H-1B visa in exchange for acting as a mentor to members and entrepreneurial UMass faculty, students, and alumni.
TechStars
TechStars offers a three-month program, taking 6% equity from companies admitted, and provides capital in two forms: $20,000 for living expenses, and the automatic offer of a $100,000 convertible note.
Artisan’s Asylum
Type: Makerspace
Artisan’s Asylum is a non-profit community fabrication center located in Somerville, MA which is currently averaging 280 monthly members and 160 studios. Offering access to necessary metal machining, electrical fabrication, welding, woodworking, sewing & fiber arts, robotics, bicycle building and repair, and screen-printing.
PULSE@ MassChallenge
The most startup community-friendly digital health lab, connecting entrepreneurs to experts, institutions and resources with no equity taken. Connecting entrepreneurs with world-class strategic partners in healthcare Pulse@ MassChallenge and partners will award up to $250,000 in no-equity scholarships and prizes at beginning and conclusion of the program.
CIC
Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) has been home to over 3500 companies since 2001, many of whom have started here. Companies originally headquartered at CIC have created over $3.9B in publicly disclosed exit value.
Groundwork!
Type: Co-Working Space
Agency: Private
Groundwork! supports the amazing community of talented entrepreneurs in New Bedford and surrounding areas, and to create a special space for people, ideas, and collaboration.
MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a not-for-profit accelerator providing startups with the access and resources they need to succeed – from free office space to mentoring, workshops and global network access. Since 2010, MassChallenge has accelerated 835 startups, which together have raised $1.3 billion in funding, generated over $500 million in revenue and created over 6500 jobs across the world.
Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll)
EforAll is a small business/nonprofit accelerator focused on mentoring organizations in mid-sized cities. EforAll offers twice yearly Accelerator Programs, where 15-20 entrepreneurs work with mentors and experts to move their ventures forward quickly.
Valley Venture Mentors (VVM)
Type: Accelerator
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts VVM builds, supports, and maintains a community committed to nurturing startups. Its primary accelerator program involves four months of intense training and critical support with the opportunity for participants to win up to $50,000 each (equity-free) to develop their businesses.
Real Estate
MassEcon
Type: Relocation Services
Agency: Non Profit
MassEcon is a nonprofit specializing in on-the-ground services to companies seeking to expand within or relocate to Massachusetts. MassEcon also engages with prospective businesses at tradeshows across the nation to help sell Massachusetts.
