Commonwealth Corporation outlines state‑funded employment grants for young adults with disabilities; FY24 programs enrolled 141 participants

Adil Suleiman, vice president of youth and justice programs at Commonwealth Corporation, and Kayla Johnson, youth and justice cross‑program manager, presented the design, funding and outcomes of the agency’s Young Adults with Disabilities grant program to the Disability Employment Subcommittee.

The program is funded through a line item in the Massachusetts General Appropriation Act and has grown since fiscal year 2021, when it received $250,000; Commonwealth Corporation said roughly $1 million has been made available each year since. "We feel like the line item language, for those of you who have read a lot of line item language, sometimes can be all over the place, left or right. This one is pretty clear about the purpose of our program and what we're trying to do," Suleiman said.

Why it matters: The program funnels state funding to community‑based organizations that provide occupational training tied to demand occupations, paid internships or stipends, and post‑placement coaching for participants ages 18–35 who have a diagnosed disability.

Program design and eligibility - Eligible participants: unemployed or underemployed people, ages 18–35, with a diagnosed disability and not enrolled in high school. Grantee models vary (remote, hybrid, in‑person) and must connect training to target job placements with post‑placement supports and coaching. - Funding history: FY21 $250,000; approximately $1 million per year since, with Commonwealth Corporation typically issuing about $900,000 in grants in a cycle. The agency extended the program year in 2025 from a historical ~6‑month cycle to an approximately 12‑month cycle to allow more time for training and placement.

FY24 (short cycle) outcomes reported by Commonwealth Corporation - Grantees: seven organizations (Community Work Services; Employment Options; Grama Associates; Jewish Vocational Service; Massachusetts Regional Vocational Technical School; Center of Hope; POLIS Center for Social and Economic Development). - Enrolled participants: 141 (113 unemployed, 18 underemployed; 18 participants fell outside the 18–35 target age range). - Completion and placement: 86% completed training, 59% attained a credential, 34% were employed and retained employment for 30 days; average wage for placed participants was $15.21.

Current cycle and pipeline Commonwealth Corporation reported five grantees in the current implementation cycle with awarded amounts between $100,000 and $200,000 and a total award of $852,891. The presenters said the current cycle is on track to train participants in Boston, Marlborough, Athol, Fitchburg and Attleboro in occupations including culinary arts, facility maintenance, carpentry, pet care, child care, clean energy, retail and hospitality. An additional six‑month planning/implementation solicitation is expected to be released in October.

Commission feedback and follow‑up Commission members applauded Commonwealth Corporation’s outreach and encouraged stronger links between grantees and benefits counseling to avoid unintended impacts on participants’ Social Security, SNAP and housing benefits when trainees receive stipends or transition to work. Kayla Johnson and Adil Suleiman said grantees now include pre‑enrollment trainings and that Commonwealth Corporation runs community practice sessions for grantees where partners can present the resources they provide.

Ending Commonwealth Corporation invited commission members to help spread awareness of the grant opportunity and potential applicants; the agency said it will make the next RFP available in October.