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EEC highlights $6 million federal apprenticeship grant and launches family childcare capital awards
Summary
Agency leaders described a new $6 million federal grant to expand apprenticeships in early education and said the first round of family child care capital grants will be announced, with a second round forthcoming.
EEC leaders reported that a new $6,000,000 federal grant will support apprenticeships in early education and out‑of‑school‑time (OST) programs and that the agency will announce grantees for the first family child care capital grant program.
The commissioner said the $6 million award is the largest grant ever received by the state Division of Apprenticeship Standards for apprenticeships and will add about 275 apprenticeship slots plus an intermediary to provide technical assistance. The agency said Massachusetts now has eight registered early‑education apprenticeships and roughly 1,800 participants who have gone through or are enrolled in apprenticeship programs.
Why it matters: Apprenticeships are a workforce tool EEC and workforce partners are using to expand career pathways for early educators—an area stakeholders repeatedly flagged as a priority in the strategic planning discussion.
Family childcare capital grants
EEC said the first round of family childcare capital grants—created in last year’s budget—will be announced at an event in Worcester and that the agency will notify second‑round awardees thereafter. The grants are intended to support capital improvements for family child care providers and other licensed sites; program details and award sizes will be published by the agency.
Ending: Agency leaders framed both investments—apprenticeship expansion and capital grants—as part of broader efforts to increase professional pathways, expand program capacity and support providers’ operating environments.
