Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $27 Million to Expand Clean Energy Workforce Development

ANDOVER, Mass. – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $27 million in grants through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to grow the state’s clean energy and climatetech workforce. The funding will support training programs, career awareness initiatives, and business development efforts, which will reach more than 13,000 individuals and hundreds of businesses in Massachusetts communities over the next three years. The announcement was made at Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover, where Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Le Blond, and grant recipients gathered to mark the occasion.

“This funding will give thousands of residents the training and support they need to start good-paying careers in these cutting-edge industries,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It’s an investment in our people and in the long-term strength of our economy.”

“This funding gives communities across Massachusetts the support they need to help residents build new skills, explore new interests, and find real opportunities in this burgeoning industry,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “It will strengthen local training programs and create clear pathways to meaningful careers that strengthen our communities and our state’s economy.”

MassCEC’s workforce development funding will support 67 organizations through six programs: Equity Workforce Training Implementation, Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure, Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support, Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity, Student and Young Adult Career Awareness and Training, and the Massachusetts Climate Career Fund.

These awards will help expand training and upskilling opportunities for residents, provide hands-on career exposure for students and young adults, fund equipment and facility upgrades that strengthen training programs, and increase support for underrepresented businesses in the clean energy sector.

“With over 115,000 clean energy workers in Massachusetts, we need to expand opportunities to support a strong, skilled workforce for the future,” said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These programs connect residents with hands-on experience, industry partnerships, and real pathways to jobs that are in demand.”

“The workers receiving this funding will go on to implement and maintain clean energy and climate technologies across Massachusetts, helping us lower energy costs, protect communities, and improve quality of life,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Dr. Jennifer Le Blond. “These 67 organizations, ranging from technical schools to unions, are growing a diverse pipeline of talent and setting workers on the path to successful, sustainable careers. This is what equitable workforce development looks like—creating access, opportunity, and investment.”

Statements of Support:

“Investing in our clean energy workforce is essential to strengthening Massachusetts’s economy and ensuring that our residents are prepared for the jobs of the future,” said State Representative Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “These grants create pathways to meaningful careers which leads our transition to a cleaner, more resilient Commonwealth.”

"Building a clean energy future means investing in the people who will make it possible. These grants deliver real pathways into good careers for workers across Massachusetts," said State Senator Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. "By expanding training programs, strengthening partnerships, and supporting underrepresented businesses, we're preparing our workforce for the demands of a changing economy while keeping opportunity at the center of our climate strategy. This is how we grow a stronger, more equitable Commonwealth."

"Greater Lawrence Technical School is grateful for the vision and leadership of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, whose vital investment is transforming education and workforce development,” said Greater Lawrence Technical School Superintendent-Director John Lavoie. “MassCEC grants enable us to expand training, build state-of-the-art facilities, and provide hands-on experience in high-demand clean energy fields, ensuring our students are ready to lead in a sustainable, high-skill future for the Commonwealth."

Awards

Equity Workforce Training Implementation grants fund new and expanded training programs that prepare residents, particularly those in Environmental Justice Communities and other underrepresented groups, for high-demand clean energy jobs. 14 grants were awarded to the following organizations, totaling over $6.3 million:

• Bristol Community College - $440,000
  • Funds will be used to implement a 300-hour welding training program with a focus on individuals from Environmental Justice communities and underserved neighborhoods.
• Building Pathways Inc. - $1,194,867
  • Funds will be used to continue their pre-apprenticeship training program serving applicants in Worcester and the Greater Boston region with daytime and evening training cycles.
• BW Research Partnership - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a plan for a workforce development initiative that creates long-term career pathways for weatherization workers in the Worcester region.
• Community Action Pioneer Valley - $750,000
  • Funds will be used to implement a training and job placement program designed to prepare participants for careers as Weatherization Technicians and Crew Chiefs.
• Emerge Career - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to implement a training program focused on HVAC, solar installation, electrical systems, and retrofitting, targeting unemployed and low-income individuals impacted by the justice system, with a specific focus on outreach to Environmental Justice communities and Gateway Cities.
• Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative - $335,000
  • Funds will be used to implement their Clean Energy Electrical Training Program with a dual training track: one for individuals with prior electrical training and/or electrical trainees who have not yet completed the 600 classroom hours for licensure, and one for licensed journeyman electricians seeking specialized clean energy skills.
• Greater Lawrence Technical School - $475,000
  • Funds will be used to expand their solar PV career pathway program previously piloted through a MassCEC award. This program incorporates best practices from the pilot phase, includes other climate-critical occupations, and focuses on opportunity youth in the Lawrence area, returning citizens, single parents, and English-isolated individuals.
• ICF Incorporated L.L.C. - $460,000
  • Funds will be used to implement a workforce program which aims to train and place individuals from underrepresented backgrounds into weatherization, HVAC careers, and additional occupations in the clean energy sector.
• Julius Education - $175,000
  • Funds will be used to receive continued support for the Career Explorer Platform, an AI-powered tool designed to develop talent pathways in the clean energy sector, and include market validation sessions with employers and workforce leaders to confirm hiring trends, wage benchmarks, and aim to map clean energy occupations.
• Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop an implementation plan for training tribal members and others in operating a community biodigester green power and biofertilizer generator that supports a mobile food hub, featuring a solar array on the enclosure demonstrating a microgrid system.
• Roxbury Community College - $600,000
  • Funds will be used to expand their Building Automation Systems (BAS) program which features a comprehensive three-semester curriculum, developed based on employer input and designed to prepare students for careers in building automation and energy management.
• UMass Amherst, Partnership for Worker Education - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to expand its Community Works state-registered pre-apprenticeship program supporting workforce training in construction and transportation to include a focus on climate-critical occupations in Western Massachusetts.
• Volunteers of America (VOAMASS) - $1,199,999
  • Funds will be used to implement a workforce development program offering a Tier 1 Plumbing Course to individuals at the Essex County Pre-Release and Reentry Center.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to build capacity for the development of a mobile training lab and technology showcase featuring experiential learning modules focused on high-performance buildings, including HVAC, solar, and battery systems.

Equity Workforce Planning and Capacity grants help organizations design or expand programs through funding and technical assistance focused on staffing, partnerships, curriculum, and support services. 6 grants were awarded to the following organizations, totaling over $450,000:

• African Bridge Network - $29,324
  • Funds will be used to develop a registered apprenticeship program for HERS raters, creating career pathways for skilled immigrants in the Greater Boston and Greater Worcester areas.
• Boston Center for Community Ownership - $149,842
  • Funds will be used to build capacity for the implementation of its PowerUP! Program, expanding support for cooperatively owned climate-critical businesses and planning to integrate into the hub and spoke model for business support grantees.
• Building Mass Careers - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a Pre-Apprenticeship Immersion Course serving low-income individuals in underrepresented communities in the Metro North and Greater Lowell region.
• Bunker Hill Community College - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to build a non-credit bearing Battery System Technician Training Program, teaching participants ESOL and soft skills for pathways towards advancement in the field.
• Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a HVAC and heat pump installation and maintenance training program, preparing low-income and marginalized residents of Boston for careers in this sector.
• Wentworth Institute of Technology - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to build a curriculum for an intensive, one-year Pre-Apprenticeship Climate-Critical Electrical Career Pathway from a modified version of their existing Board-certified program, supporting early-career individuals from Boston neighborhoods.

Student and Young Adult Career Awareness and Training grants support organizations interested in developing career awareness and training programs for students and young adults. 22 grants were awarded to the following organizations, totaling over $4.7 million:

• Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts, Inc. - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a Construction Management Pre-Apprenticeship Program in collaboration with Early Investors, Franklin Cummings Technical College, and YouthBuild Boston.
• Boston Green Academy - $395,600
  • Funds will be used to build on a previous MassCEC grant to add its CTE program in Environmental Science for eighth to twelfth graders, creating career pathways for climate critical fields including career awareness, preparation, and job experience.
• Boston Plan for Excellence (BPE), Inc. - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to expand clean energy career exposure opportunities for students in grades 6–12 at Dearborn STEM Academy, aiming to launch a dedicated Clean Energy strand within the existing Engineering pathway, deepen engagement with employer partners, and provide Boston Public School educators with exposure to clean energy careers.
• Building Pathways Inc. - $450,000
  • Funds will be used to create a structured, supportive pre-apprenticeship program designed to prepare participants for long-term careers in the building trades.
• Digital Ready - $450,000
  • Funds will be used to expand its Clean Energy Learn + Earn initiative, a well-developed, multi-phase model that includes technical training, industry-recognized credentials, and paid work-based learning.
• Ethos Pathways - $300,000
  • Funds will be used to develop the Berkshire Climate Career Lab (CCL), a two-year pilot program designed to support Environmental Justice (EJ) youth in Berkshire County with career exploration and post-secondary planning focused on climate justice and clean energy pathways, addressing regional barriers to clean energy job access, particularly for rural and Gateway City students.
• Florrent, Inc. - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to plan a hands-on workforce development initiative designed to engage high school students in Western Massachusetts, providing students with early exposure to clean energy careers, specifically in energy storage and grid modernization, in collaboration with The Massenberg STEM Institute and Make-It Springfield.
• Heart of New England Council, Scouting America - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to refine its clean energy workforce model, incorporating clean energy and climate-critical career exploration through merit badge pathways in collaboration with Worcester, Fitchburg, and Leominster Public Schools.
• Lynn Public Schools - $599,500
  • Funds will be used to offer a program that combines classroom instruction, technical skills training, and work-based learning experiences to prepare students for success in the clean energy workforce.
• Massachusetts Youth Workforce Innovation Lab - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to work in partnership with the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board to develop Clean Energy Explorers, a one-year clean energy career awareness initiative aimed at high school students across Berkshire County.
• MassHire Lowell Young Adult Career Center - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to build capacity to support the further development and refinement of their Clean Energy Career Exploration program for young adults and provide hands-on exposure to clean energy careers in collaboration with Interplay Learning.
• MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to plan a career pathway training program for underrepresented students and young adults in clean energy and skilled trades, using multiple pathways to help participants build technical and professional skills aligned with employer needs in collaboration with Transfr Inc.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Lemelson-MIT Program - $400,000
  • Funds will be used to run a comprehensive and innovative clean energy career exploration initiative for high school students in Haverhill, in collaboration with Haverhill Public Schools/Haverhill High School and New England Events.
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Boston Professionals - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to formalize and expand its existing clean energy workforce awareness programming into a year-round Clean Energy Youth Center model, serving high school students in environmental justice communities in Greater Boston, run in collaboration with Transform Power Systems, Julius Education, and Schneider Electric.
• Polus Center for Social & Economic Development, Inc. - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to refine curriculum and securing employer partnerships for an 8-week Clean Energy Jobs Project for young adults ages 18–24, combining virtual instruction with in-person field trips to introduce participants to career pathways in clean energy and provide them with individualized career support, in collaboration with MassHire North Central Workforce Board and MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board.
• Project LEARN - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to plan the design and pilot the Renewable Futures Lab—a hands-on summer program aimed at preparing Lowell youth for clean energy careers.
• Roxbury Community College - $300,000
  • Funds will be used to offer the Clean Energy Career Foundations Program, a semester-long hands-on training experience for high school students focused on building science, building controls, and clean energy fundamentals.
• SkilledUS - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to run a planning initiative aimed at expanding their clean energy workforce development programs to youth under 18.
• Tremco Rising Stars - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to plan the expansion of their already running Rising Stars program in Boston and Brockton to new Gateway Cities, which works to prepare young adults ages 16-24 for sustainable jobs in the construction industry.
• Watertown Public Schools - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to launch the High-Performance Buildings initiative to deliver clean energy career exposure and hands-on learning opportunities to a broad student population.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute - $210,000
  • Funds will be used to run a comprehensive, hands-on heat pump installation and energy assessment training for WPI students, prioritizing students from environmental justice communities and underrepresented groups.
• Work-Based Learning Alliance - $400,000
  • Funds will be used to expand access to clean energy workforce development for high school students across the state by delivering scalable, high-quality internships over 18 months.

Climate-Critical Workforce Training, Equipment, and Infrastructure grants fund essential tools and facility upgrades that expand training capacity and open more pathways for Massachusetts residents to start or advance in clean energy careers. 22 grants were awarded to the following organizations, totaling over $6.1 million:

• All in Energy - $104,388
  • Funds will be used to enhance their bilingual energy auditor training program through the purchase of tools and equipment for energy assessments, development of hands-on training modules, and expansion of the LMS system.
• Assabet Valley Regional Vocational High School - $40,000
  • Funds will be used to develop an implementation plan for their Legacy EV Tech Training Lab, an electric vehicle technology training program for high school seniors.
• Bristol Community College - $450,000
  • Funds will be used to establish a new, non-credit-bearing Crane Operator Training Program where participants will obtain industry certifications and licenses to facilitate their readiness for employment in the clean energy sector.
• Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to develop programming to enhance their automotive technician training curriculum through the integration of a specialized section dedicated to training in high-voltage (HV) and hybrid vehicles.
• Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School - $500,000
  • Funds will be used to support their automotive technician training curriculum through the purchase of relevant high-voltage and hybrid vehicle training equipment, modifying curriculum, and fortifying safety infrastructure.
• Energetics - $400,000
  • Funds will be used to deliver upskilling to municipal automotive technicians and fleet managers, through hands-on hybrid and electric vehicle repair training.
• Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative - $125,000
  • Funds will be used to purchase instructional tools such as AC/DC training systems, motor control panels, solar PV demonstration units, conduit benders, cable pullers, and smart-grid simulators to support the Clean Energy Electrical Training Program.
• Greater Boston Joint Apprenticeship Training Center - $164,258
  • Funds will be used to enhance necessary equipment and infrastructure to expand their registered apprenticeship and continuing education programs, facilitating the completion of a project to refurbish a wind turbine and construct a safety training tower, enabling the integration of specialized wind safety training and technical instruction for union apprentices and journey-level electricians.
• Greenfield Community College - $175,000
  • Funds will be used to facilitate the acquisition of practical weatherization equipment, complete a needs assessment, and oversee the design of a mobile lab dedicated to training for Weatherization Technician and related Crew Chief training.
• HVAC Pro Blog - $225,000
  • Funds will be used to implement an incumbent worker upskilling program aimed at fossil fuel workers in the residential HVAC sector across Massachusetts.
• La Colaborativa - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to procure specialized clean energy training equipment for their state-of-the-art Chelsea Economic Development Center.
• Madison Park Vocational Technical High School - $386,688
  • Funds will be used to support their Chapter 74 HVAC Program training program with enhanced equipment and infrastructure.
• Massasoit Community College - $685,000
  • Funds will be used to train near-release incarcerated individuals in Southeastern Massachusetts in Alternative Fuels and Medium/Heavy Duty Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology, delivered through a mobile training unit where participants will earn stackable credentials.
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) - $449,195
  • Funds will be used to develop a no-cost Municipal Energy and Sustainability Managers Training program to support new entrants in succeeding in these roles and guiding additional municipal staff placements in Environmental Justice communities across the Commonwealth.
• New Ecology - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop an implementation plan for Greenprint for Success, a pilot workforce development program aimed at upskilling architects and mechanical engineers with specialized knowledge in high-performance building design.
• Passive House Massachusetts - $275,000
  • Funds will be used to increase capacity to implement a pilot program aimed at upskilling current workers in the construction trades and equipping them with the skills and information necessary to deliver Passive House projects.
• Roxbury Community College - $450,000
  • Funds will be used to provide equipment and infrastructure support to the Center for Smart Building Technology.
• South Shore Technical High School - $350,000
  • Funds will be used to invest in equipment and infrastructure to support a workforce development initiative that broadens access to clean energy careers for underserved communities in HVAC and automotive technology fields.
• Spark Charge - $460,000
  • Funds will be used to implement a hybrid training program designed to train and provide credentials to individuals from Environmental Justice communities for careers in fleet electrification, specifically with mobile, off-grid charging.
• STEMatch - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop an implementation plan to shift the focus of their existing Tech-centric COMPETE Program to include pathways into the clean energy sector.
• UMass Amherst - $400,000
  • Funds will be used to continue to support graduate students pivoting into the clean energy sector through its ELEVATE program, a graduate student fellowship program.
• UMass Boston - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a plan for a training program that would provide electrical contractors and their staff with the knowledge to create and submit competitive bids for offshore wind projects.

The Massachusetts Climate Career Fund aims to help participants start and complete high-quality training for good-paying clean energy jobs, such as HVAC/R technicians, electricians, energy auditors, and EV mechanics, by providing flexible support to meet individual needs. 1 grant was awarded to the following organization, totaling over $4.8 million:

• Social Finance - $4,875,000
  • Funds will be used to create the Massachusetts Climate Careers Fund, providing 0% interest, no origination fee loans for living expenses and tuition gaps to help participants access and persist in high-quality training for in-demand climate careers by flexibly covering individuals’ specific needs.

Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support (CUBS) grants fund regional hubs that help diverse and small businesses build capacity, access resources, and compete for clean energy contracts across Massachusetts. CUBS support the expansion of services through a regional “Hub and Spoke” model. 15 grants were awarded to the following organizations, totaling over $4.4 million:

• Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT) - $250,000
  • Funds will be used to coordinate with hubs to pilot scalable infrastructure to support outreach and recruitment activities housed out of local community colleges.
• BECMA (Black Economic Council of Massachusetts) - $397,090
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke supporting minority businesses entering the electric vehicle (EV) charging field and align Spoke services with additional Hub regions to address EV infrastructure pathway gaps.
• BECMA (Black Economic Council of Massachusetts) - $750,000
  • Funds will be used to serve as the Greater Boston Regional Hub delivering all Core Services, offering individualized assessments, customized business growth plans, and a structured service delivery workflow.
• Building Pathways - $399,711
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke supporting union contractors, offering business education and procurement navigation support to help participants engage more deeply in clean energy opportunities across sectors, specifically high-performance buildings.
• Coalition for an Equitable Economy - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to pilot a new business support program, Business Registration Advisory Guide (BRAG) and embed trained guides within clean energy business support organizations.
• Emerald Cities Collaborative - $625,000
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke using a procurement-focused contractor support model grounded in procurement readiness and bid development.
• Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative - $135,000
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke providing procurement navigation in net-zero –grid and the high-performance building sectors.
• Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative - $600,000
  • Funds will be used to serve as the Pioneer Valley Regional Hub delivering all core services, offering a combination of direct service delivery and targeted support provided by subcontracted partners, including capital access and post-financing coaching, certification navigation, and procurement navigation.
• GNESMDC (Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council) - $350,000
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke guiding underrepresented businesses through certification pathways and providing additional services to prepare participants for eligibility for public and private clean energy contracts.
• Interise Inc. - $30,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a plan for a Spoke, including one-on-one supports responsive to the procurement navigation needs of underrepresented businesses seeking entry into the offshore wind supply chain.
• La Colaborativa - $30,000
  • Funds will be used to develop a plan for a Spoke, building sector-specific procurement supports for minority businesses in the Northeast workforce region.
• Massive Brand Consulting, Inc. - $50,000
  • Funds will be used to identify regional approaches and entities positioned to carry out the full scope of Hub responsibilities in the Southeastern workforce region.
• MassMEP - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to support supply chain research and align programming by pivoting underrepresented manufacturers into the clean energy sector with the Hub and Spoke model.
• North Shore Latino Business Association (NSLBA) - $150,000
  • Funds will be used to refine a service delivery plan including a small pilot group of high-performance building contractors and align to the Hub and Spoke model in the Northeast workforce region.
• SRGE, The Construction Accelerator - $396,011
  • Funds will be used to serve as a Spoke delivering specialized services focused on navigating underrepresented decarbonization construction businesses through the bid process.

These investments advance the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Massachusetts Workforce Agenda, reinforcing the state’s leadership in building an equitable clean energy workforce. These new grantees join more than 250 active MassCEC workforce partners already expanding access to good-paying jobs in clean energy and climatetech across Massachusetts.

For more information on MassCEC’s workforce programs, visit masscec.com/workforce.

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, increase affordability, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded nearly $800 million in programs and investments and attracted more than $2.8 billion in private and public funds.

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