Act promotes Mass. economic develoment

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick this month signed a new economic-development package to provide training to ensure the workforce meets the needs of employers, and also invest in the state’s Gateway Cities to promote development across the state.
The act includes $12 million for the middle-skills, job-training grant fund to support advanced manufacturing, mechanical and technical skills at vocational-technical schools and community colleges. Additionally, the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund will receive $1.5 million to prepare the state’s residents for new jobs in “high-demand occupations.”
The legislation also includes $2 million for a Big Data Innovation and Workforce Fund to promote the use of open data and analytics, and an additional $2 million for the Innovation Institute Fund at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
The new law will also create a $1 million talent-pipeline program that will provide matching grants aiming to increase technology and innovation internships. Another $1 million will be allocated for a startup-mentoring program to connect early-stage entrepreneurs, technology startups and small business with experienced business enterprises and capital financing. •

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