State looks to boost training in tech, life science sectors
A new state program announced Tuesday aims to connect employers with workers in Massachusetts looking to find jobs in the life sciences, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing industries.
At the BIO International Convention in Boston, Gov. Maura Healey said the new program, dubbed MassTalent, will serve as a “one-stop front door” for companies and streamline government resources to allow employers to access local talent.
Healey said her administration will tap $50 million in funding through the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to broker partnerships between education and training partners and companies to train future workers.
Another component of the program, called Pathmaker, looks to create an 8-10 week free training program for students and adults with a high school education but no previous experience in life sciences.
The Healey administration said a request for proposals for Pathmaker will be finalized in summer 2023 and $2 million will be available for initial programs scheduled to launch in fall 2023. The administration said it expects to graduate 150 to 200 students by the first quarter of 2024.
“We want to lengthen our lead in the life sciences industry by opening up great STEM careers to more students and unlocking the untapped potential of all our diverse communities, connecting employers with the talent they need grow their workforce, and paving the way to spark more discoveries, cure more diseases and help more patients,” Healey said in a statement.
Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao said Massachusetts needs skilled workers in order to maintain its “position as a leader in life sciences.”
“MassTalent and Pathmaker will help the state meet the demands of our most vital industries while making it easier for companies to access Massachusetts’ workforce development resources through a one-stop hub,” Hao said in a statement.
Healey also said she wants to reauthorize the Massachusetts Life Sciences Initiative, a public-private program started under former Gov. Deval Patrick and continued under former Gov. Charlie Baker that has shuttled dollars and offered tax credits to the life sciences sector.
“We will remain committed to this partnership, because it’s rooted in our state’s identity and it has advanced both our scientific leadership and our economic competitiveness,” Healey said in a statement.