Workforce Development Grantmaking
The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) partners with 100+ community based organizations annually, providing over $10 million in grants through a variety of funding sources. OWD administers small grants, multiyear special projects, and evaluations in an effort to provide Boston residents with opportunities to access good jobs and greater economic stability.
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Have questions? Contact:
Workforce Development
Funding Opportunities
Request for Grant Applications: EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program – Healthcare Workforce Partnership Initiative
The Office of Workforce Development (OWD), within the Worker Empowerment Cabinet, is seeking input from both healthcare employers and healthcare training providers in connection with a planned application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a federal agency that supports regional economic development, workforce development, and industry competitiveness initiatives. Through the AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program, EDA is investing in employer-led regional workforce systems that prepare workers for occupations increasingly utilizing AI-enabled technologies.
The initiative is structured around a multi-phase implementation model that moves from regional planning and partnership development to curriculum and program design and ultimately to large-scale workforce training and implementation.
To inform Boston’s application, OWD is requesting information from both healthcare employers and healthcare training providers, including community colleges, workforce training organizations, apprenticeship programs, and other education and training partners.
The goal of this Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) is to both gather information that will help share Boston’s application and to identify potential partners interested in collaborating on the future sectoral partnership and grant proposal under the EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program. Specifically, the RFGA seeks to better understand:
- Current and anticipated use of AI across healthcare settings
- Workforce and occupational training needs emerging from changes in healthcare technologies, tools, and workflows associated with AI adoption
- Existing healthcare occupational training capacity and readiness to integrate AI and digital competencies into occupational training and career pathways
Through this RFGA, we seek to identify partners—both employers and training providers—who will collaborate with our office on an application to this grant opportunity. Responses to this RFGA are non-binding and are intended for planning, partnership development, and application preparation purposes only. Interested parties must identify a staff person who will be available during the partnership development and application process to work with our office on formulating and submitting a response. Any activities and outcomes discussed in the response to this RFGA are subject to change during the partnership development and application process and change requests from EDA. Any funding is contingent on a successful application to EDA. No funding is available until and unless an award is made from EDA.
As OWD assesses potential partnerships, we are particularly interested in identifying stakeholders who are aligned with the goals and requirements of the EDA AI Upskill Accelerator Pilot Program. Factors that may strengthen alignment with the funding opportunity include: demonstrated employer demand for the training pathways, AI-related workforce needs, employer commitments, training capacity, existing training-employer provider relationships, experience delivering occupational training programs, training participant placement and retention outcomes, and the ability to leverage non-federal matching resources or other supportive investments.
Only non-profit organizations are eligible for funding under this opportunity. However, private employers can participate in the initiative and should still complete the application process.
How to Complete the RFGA
Healthcare employers and healthcare training providers will complete separate forms tailored to their primary role in the healthcare industry. Both forms will require you to complete a linked spreadsheet. To maintain your progress, please do not close the Google form when you’re completing the spreadsheet.
Healthcare employers:
Healthcare training providers, including a community college, workforce training organization, labor management training fund, apprenticeship program, university, or other education and training partner:
Important information
- All applications and required documents are due by June 8, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. No extensions will be granted.
- Two virtual Q&A sessions will be held:
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June 3, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. | Register here
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June 5, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. | Register here
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- Have questions? Please email sarah.soroui@boston.gov. The deadline to submit questions is June 5, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Types of Grants
GrantsThrough the Alternative Education Initiative (AEI), the City of Boston supports youth who are working toward their high school diploma or its equivalent. AEI provides funds to alternative education programs where youth also receive wrap-around services and develop workforce readiness skills. Eligible youth are Boston residents, ages 16–24.
Example of a Past AEI Funding Opportunity:
Boston receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under a formula based on several factors. The funds are received by the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) and are used primarily for affordable housing and economic development. HUD allows cities to use up to 15% of this money for human service programming. MOH partners with the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) to manage that portion of the CDBG allocation.
OWD issues competitive Requests for Grant Applications to award funding to Boston non-profit organizations that serve youth and adults. These funds are intended to be used to provide support services for economic security and enable individuals to access education or job training and, in turn, obtain the kinds of jobs capable of moving people out of poverty.
- Target Population: Low-income Boston residents of all ages.
- Funding Timeline: 1-year contract, July 1- June 30. 2-year funding cycle with open and competitive every other year. 2025 will be a refunding year. The next open and competitive funding opportunity will be in 2026.
- Applicant Requirements: 501 (c) (3) organizations or fiscal sponsors that are 501 (c) (3).
Additional Materials
The Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition (GJMBC) aims to train and place residents in 4,618 quality jobs in childcare, healthcare, and clean energy industries. This program is funded by a $23 million Good Jobs Challenge grant awarded to the Office of Workforce Development by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
- Target Population: Unemployed and underemployed, incumbent workers, community college students, and BIPOC individuals in the Greater Boston Region.
This statement was prepared by the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Boston using federal funds under award ED22HDQ3070112 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Greater Boston Equitable Apprenticeship Pathways (GBEAP) program connects Boston residents to pre-apprenticeships leading to Registered Apprenticeship programs in construction, hospitality, healthcare, and the life sciences. This program is funded by a four-year, $3 million Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) grant awarded to the Office of Workforce Development by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Greater Boston Equitable Apprenticeship Pathways Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award totaling 100% of $3M with 0% of $0 state, local, and/or non-federal sources.
Developers of commercial and institutional development over 50,000 square feet pay linkage fees to the Neighborhood Jobs Trust (NJT) and the Neighborhood Housing Trust. In general, NJT funds are awarded through competitive RFGAs issued when enough money has accumulated in the Trust. This money can be used for jobs or job training. Learn more about the Neighborhood Jobs Trust.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides federal formula funds to each state through the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). The Office of Workforce Development (OWD) administers Boston's portion, with oversight from the Boston Private Industry Council.
This project is funded 100% with Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Grant Funds from USDOL. The total Federal funding for this project in fiscal year 2026 is $2,220,412.00.
Boston's WIOA Title I Youth (WIOA Y) funds are distributed to alternative education, career exploration, and training programs. Youth can earn a high school diploma or its equivalent, gain work experience, and/or earn a recognized certificate. All WIOA youth complete academic and career assessments, which then inform their individualized program plan. Throughout the program, organizations offer a wide array of supports, including:
- financial literacy
- counseling
- referrals
- subsidized work experience, and
- mentoring.
Youth then take the next step to enroll in post-secondary education, enroll in training programs, and gain employment. Eligible youth are Boston residents, ages 18–24, who face barriers to employment.
- Funding Timeline: 1-year contract, July 1- June 30. 3-year funding cycle with open and competitive funding every 2 years. This year will open and be competitive for Fiscal Year 2026.
- Applicant Requirements: Program participants must be Boston residents ages 14-24 who face a barrier to employment. Entities applying for funding must be 501c3.
Boston's WIOA Adult funding provides workforce development activities that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants by increasing the occupational skill attainment of participants, improving the quality of the workforce, reducing welfare dependency, and enhancing productivity and competitiveness throughout the country. WIOA encourages businesses to participate in the local delivery of workforce development services through workforce investment boards, chaired by private sector members of the local community. WIOA funds are distributed annually to low-income Boston residents and job seekers looking to re-enter the workforce after a layoff or plant closure. OWD administers the annual distribution of Individual Training Accounts (ITA) via the two MassHire Career Centers. Individuals have the option to receive reemployment services and/or attend occupational skills training programs in a variety of industries and sectors, including healthcare, information technology, culinary arts, and transportation, among others. To apply to become an ITA vendor, please visit the State’s Office of Labor and Workforce Development website.
OWD also administers National Emergency Grants (NEG). NEGs expand the service capacity of WIOA by offering reemployment services to dislocated workers affected by plant closings and large layoffs.
YouthWorks is a state-funded youth employment program administered by Commonwealth Corporation. Through the YouthWorks Summer Jobs grant and the YouthWorks Year-Round Jobs grant, the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) ensures that Boston youth ages 14-24 are employed throughout the year. OWD uses these funds to support non-profits that provide Boston youth with these services.
- Target Population: Boston youth ages 14-24
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