WORKFORCE CENTRAL FINANCIAL AID

Workforce Central Career Centers can provide financial assistance for re-training to eligible applicants. Following is eligibility guidelines and documentation required for adults (18 years +). You must currently reside or have been laid off within our service delivery area.  Click here for a list of eligible cities and towns.

All Customers:

Proof of age: (one of the following) Birth certificate, driver’s license, DD214 (veterans only), baptismal record, federal-state-local government identification card, Selective Service card, hospital record or passport
Work authorization: (one of the following) Birth certificate (for US citizens), U.S. passport, voter registration card, alien registration card indicating right to work, foreign passport stamped eligible to work or naturalization certification.

Must be eligible under one of the following 4 criteria:
  1. Dislocated Worker– an individual who has been terminated or laid off, or who has received a notice of termination or layoff from employment and is eligible for or has exhausted entitlement to unemployment compensation. * Documentation of unemployment insurance (UI) records required.  (Funds available July 1st, 2005)
  2. Targeted Company Lay offs – Workforce Central frequently applies for, and receives federal grants to serve workers laid off from specific companies. Eligibility is based on date of separation from the company. (To see a list of targeted companies click here)
  3. Displaced Homemaker – an individual who has been providing unpaid services to family members in the home and who has been dependent on the income of another family member, but is no longer supported by that income. Documentation required to determine "Displaced Homemaker" status would be tax returns, Social Security documents, death certificate or divorce decree. (Funds available July 1st, 2004)

  4. Economically Disadvantaged – status based on family size and income which includes gross wages and salaries (before deductions), pay received while serving in the Armed Forces, pensions, Worker’s Compensation, interest and dividends, net rental income and fixed term or lifetime winnings. It does not include unemployment compensation payments, child support, savings, food stamps and some forms of public assistance such as SSI, TAFDC or EAEDC. The income guidelines for program year 2004 based on the previous six months are:  (Funds available July 1st, 2005)
    (family size 1 through six) (add $3,635..for each family member after 6.)

    1. $6,540
    2. $10,720
    3. $14,715
    4. $18,165
    5. $21,435

    6. $25,070

Please note: Males 18 or older who were born on or after December 31, 1959 must be in compliance with the Military Selective Service Act (draft registration). Acceptable forms of documentation include: DD214 (veteran’s status), Selective Service card, Selective Service registration form, stamped post office receipt of registration.

Please call (508) 799-1600 to schedule a Career Center Seminar or to ask questions.  You may also e-mail us at Workforce Central.

Workforce Central currently has targeted grants to provide employment and training services to laid off workers from the following companies: and other targeted groups

495/128 National Emergency Grant (Former employees that were laid-off after 07/01/02)
 Allmerica Financial
 Celox Networks
 Delta Design
 DST Output
 Fidelity Investments
Key3Media Inc.
KLA Tencor
Marriott Distribution Center
OFS Fital
Pegasis Communications
Polack Engineering Products
 Precise Technology Inc.
 Raytheon Company
 Rowecom Inc.
 Software Spectrum
 TJX Companies
 Toltex Fabrics
 Tomra Mass LLC
 Value Options
VIshay BLH Inc
Waltham Hospital
Wildfire Communications

Lucent Technologies

CM-RR-Reed-Rico Set-Aside  (Former employees of the following companies laid off after 4/12/03)  
AMI Leasing/Penske Trucking
ECC Corporation
Future Electronics
Kennedy Diecasting
LSI Marketing
GE Financial/Sun Systems of Westboro, MA
Northbridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center of Northbridge, MA
Corning Inc. of Sturbridge and North Brookfeild, MA
Leggett and Platt of Oxford, MA
Reed Rico Specialty Products of Holden, MA 

Fleet Grant  (laid-off after 04/01/2004)
Bank of America
Fleet Bank

Abbott Labs/Medisense  (laid-off after 3/26/04)