Community Workforce Partnership Grant Program

The Community Workforce Partnerships Grant is a competitive program administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED). This grant initiative is rooted in the decade-long success of the Urban Agenda grant and is now supported through the Workforce Investment Trust Fund. The program seeks to empower local communities to define and address their own workforce development challenges by fostering coalition-based solutions centered around a single city, town, or Boston neighborhood within Massachusetts. The grant program prioritizes community-led economic interventions that focus on equipping residents and small business workers with the skills and support needed for economic success. Eligible projects must address specific, locally-identified economic opportunities or challenges through training, literacy, apprenticeship, or small business workforce development initiatives. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion, particularly by supporting vulnerable youth, low-income individuals, and historically marginalized populations through comprehensive and culturally relevant services. Eligible lead applicants must be Massachusetts-based nonprofit organizations with an annual operating budget of at least $200,000, proven experience in workforce development, and must apply on behalf of a partnership involving at least one additional organization. Partnerships are encouraged to include diverse stakeholders such as municipal governments, businesses, and community-based groups. Successful projects will identify a discrete target population and integrate support services such as childcare, transportation, housing stability, and access to healthcare to promote long-term economic mobility. Applications are submitted via the EOED Submittable platform and must include a detailed budget and letters of support from partner organizations. The submission deadline for the 2026 grant cycle was May 2, 2025, with award notifications scheduled for September 2025. The grant period will run from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Selected grantees will operate on a cost-reimbursement basis with reporting requirements due quarterly. Each grantee must meet at least three SMART goals during the grant term, and 50% of the grant award is released at contract execution, followed by two additional payments based on performance. Grantees will also participate in two peer-to-peer learning sessions during the grant year and are required to submit final financial and outcome reports by January 15, 2027. The program is not recurring annually and does not specify a future funding cycle. EOED reserves the right to request additional documentation and may issue partial awards at its discretion. Questions during the open application period must be submitted to the program inbox and will be addressed through published FAQs.

Strong applications have clear community need alignment, active multi-sector partnerships, integration of support services (e.g., childcare, housing), and target population involvement in project design