Governor Maura Healey unveiled $204,537 in state Training Resources and Internships Network (TRAIN) grants on Tuesday, Oct. 20, earmarked for two Worcester‑County community colleges. The money will help more than 500 unemployed and underemployed adults gain credentials as medical assistants and paraeducators, positioning them for good‑paying jobs in health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, education and transportation.
Grant details for each campus
Quinsigamond Community College (QCC) in Worcester will receive $113,313 to expand its medical assistant training program. The college runs non‑credit job training through its Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education at 25 Federal St. QCC has previously leveraged TRAIN funding, including $105,000 in fiscal 2022 for medical administrative and clinical assistant training, according to the state Department of Higher Education.
Mount Wachusett Community College, located in Gardner, will be awarded $91,224 to support its paraeducator training track. The college’s Workforce Access and Education program already offers paraprofessional educator training that prepares students for entry‑level school positions and the paraprofessional certification exam. Applicants may enroll in only one grant‑funded program at a time, and the college holds information sessions to guide prospective students.
State leadership and local support
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll joined Education Secretary Steve Zrike, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones and Interim Commissioner of Higher Education José Luis Santos for the announcement at MassBay Community College in Framingham, coinciding with Massachusetts STEM Week. “These grants will help more than 500 adults gain the skills they need to get good‑paying jobs while helping Massachusetts employers find the talented workers they need to grow,” Governor Healey said.
State Rep. Kate Donaghue, D‑Westborough, whose 19th Worcester District includes Southborough, parts of Westborough, Northborough and Framingham, highlighted her own background as a clinical laboratory scientist and software engineer. “I understand the value of combining education with hands‑on experience,” Donaghue said in a statement, expressing enthusiasm for the state’s investment in internship opportunities.
TRAIN program background
The TRAIN initiative was launched by the Department of Higher Education in fiscal 2016 to serve long‑term unemployed adults. It later expanded to underemployed workers and adults entering the workforce for the first time. Participating colleges design curricula around regional job demand, with employers helping shape program content and offering internships.
Massachusetts has seen a surge in community‑college enrollment since the state made tuition and fees free through the MassReconnect and MassEducate programs. Enrollment rose 38.5% between fall 2022 and fall 2025, according to the governor’s office, underscoring the growing demand for affordable post‑secondary pathways.
What this means for local workers
For Worcester residents and those in surrounding towns, the new funding translates into more accessible training slots, shorter pathways to certification, and stronger connections to local employers seeking skilled staff. The medical assistant track at QCC aligns with the region’s expanding health‑care sector, while the paraeducator program at Mount Wachusett supports the ongoing need for qualified support staff in schools across the Commonwealth.
Both colleges plan to work closely with area health systems, manufacturers and school districts to place graduates in apprenticeships and entry‑level positions, helping to close the skills gap that has hampered employer growth in recent years.
Looking ahead
The $204,537 grant is part of a larger $1.5 million allocation to all 15 Massachusetts community colleges under the TRAIN program. As the state continues to prioritize workforce development, additional rounds of funding are expected to target emerging industries and further expand opportunities for adults seeking to re‑enter the job market.
Local leaders encourage interested adults to attend upcoming information sessions at QCC and Mount Wachusett, where they can learn about eligibility, application timelines and the specific curricula offered under the new grants.
Original reporting: This Week in Worcester — read the source article.
