Watertown Companies Awarded Over $200K in Workforce Training Funds

WATERTOWN, MA – Two Watertown companies were among 111 Bay State businesses to receive workforce training grants, the Baker-Polito administration announced Wednesday. The state awarded more than $7.9 million in funds for training over 5,243 workers and creating an expected 522 new jobs.

Fresh Tilled Soil received $11,300 to train eight workers, with four additional jobs expected in 2019. Tech Device Corp. was awarded $208,800 to train 54 workers, with additional jobs expected in 2019.

"Workforce training grants invest in the strength of our workers and Massachusetts’s labor market," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. "We are pleased these funds can assist workers in developing the skills they need to advance their careers and help businesses foster an employment pool which better matches their growth needs."

The Workforce Training Fund provides grants of up to $250,000 to companies in Massachusetts to projects that will upgrade workers' skills, increase productivity and enhance the competitiveness of businesses in the state. Grants are matched dollar-by-dollar by award recipients.

Grant winners were announced at an event at the Danvers campus of North Shore Community College.

"This fund helps ensure businesses remain competitive in an increasingly globalized employment environment," Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Ronald L. Walker, II said in a statement. "By focusing on developing the skill sets of our workers today, we ensure that they have access to the jobs of tomorrow."

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