Boston Gets $3M Workforce Development Grant

The city of Boston has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Obama Administration to expand apprenticeship opportunities in construction and hospitality through Mayor Marty Walsh’s Office of Workforce Development.

The city’s award, part of the $175 million American Apprenticeship Grant program, will serve 394 participants seeking to advance careers in the construction and hospitality sectors.

“This grant allows us to equip residents with the knowledge and skills needed to gain employment in some of our fastest growing sectors,” Walsh said Friday. “We want to provide a pipeline to better-paying jobs with benefits. We know the demand exists, and we’re here to provide the connections.”

The Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development led the grant application process with lead partner organizations Building Pathways, YouthBuild Boston, and BEST Corp. In his former role as General Agent for the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Metropolitan District, Mayor Walsh played a pivotal role in starting the Building Pathways program.

Building Pathways is a pre-apprenticeship program that provides women and people of color a direct path into a career in the building trades. Over 200 people have participated in the program since it was established in 2011. The public-private collaboration will focus largely on outreach to underrepresented individuals with the goal of strengthening this population’s access to apprenticeships.

“Investments in education and training like the Greater Boston American Apprenticeship Initiative are a key part of how we grow our economy and help our families build a future,” Senator Warren said. “Mayor Walsh and the City of Boston are leading the way in making sure hardworking people, especially women and people of color, can get the skills they need to get well-paid jobs with good benefits. I’m very happy the federal government is recognizing their efforts with this major grant. “

The Greater Boston American Apprenticeship Initiative (GBAAI) will offer an accelerated path to skilled jobs with several benefits. Participants in the initiative will have access to training opportunities and college credential programs that could increase their earnings from the state’s minimum wage of $9 per hour to initial union wages of about $16 per hour or journeyman wages of $21 per hour and higher, depending on occupation and educational attainment. The lead partners hope to increase the number of people of color and women, groups who have traditionally been underrepresented, in skilled labor positions.

“The Greater Boston American Apprenticeship Initiative creates opportunities and pathways to success for women and communities of color working to achieve their American Dream,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “As demand in the construction and hospitality industries grow, providing pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and education that can lead to union careers in these fields will result in a better trained, better equipped workforce. I applaud Mayor Walsh and the Office of Workforce Development for their leadership and commitment to securing this funding that will help underrepresented groups fully maximize their abilities.”

Wentworth Institute of Technology and Bunker Hill Community College will serve as higher education partners in the GBAAI. Both institutions will provide supportive programming opportunities.