Get Paid for Workforce Training: What You Need for your Express Grant Application

The Commonwealth Corporation’s WTFP Express Program provides employers fast, simple access to grant-funded training, helping businesses in Massachusetts respond to emerging needs. Built Environment Plus helps facilitate this funding to enable more attendees to take advantage of our education programs.

Businesses with 1-50 employees can receive up to 100% reimbursement, and those with 51-100 employees up to 50% reimbursement. If you have more than 100 employees, you should apply to the General program.

Who Can Apply?
The Express Grant program is available to Massachusetts employers with 100 or fewer employees, but eligibility depends on a few key factors. To qualify, your organization must:

1. Have a physical MA-based location
2. Pay into the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system.

For-profits, Non-profits and Sole proprietors are typically eligible if they have W2 employees, while government agencies and community colleges are not eligible. To check your eligibility and learn more, visit this page.

Here’s the Process for Applying for Express Grant Funding for Eligible Courses:
1. Pick a Course from the BE+ Catalog
2. Gather Application Materials (COGS from MA DOR; Cert. of Compliance from DUA; W9)
3. Apply for Funding
4. Accept your Award & Sign Contract
5. Attend or Send Employees to Training
6. Request Reimbursement

New Eligibility Requirements for Application Materials:
Effective July 2025, Express Grant applications require a NEW Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), in addition to the prior documentation required (including a Certificate of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue and signed Form W9; read more about obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing here).

The new Certificate of Compliance is required to:

(1) Verify compliance with DUA UI/UHI contributions
(2) Confirm that your organization pays into the Workforce Training Fund
(3) Verify the latest number of Massachusetts payroll employees that were filed with the DUA

How to Request the Certificate of Compliance
Businesses can generate a Certificate of Compliance that will confirm whether the business contributes to WTFP and is eligible to apply (assuming all other compliance requirements are met) via a self-service option on the DUA’s Unemployment Services for Employers portal. See here for instructions to access the Unemployment Services for Employers portal.

Important Notes:

• • The DUA is now using MyMassGov login for its Unemployment Services for Employers portal, which has replaced the UIOnline portal. You will need to create a “MyMass.gov” login FIRST, before you can get access to your DUA account.
  • You must select the entity type “Commonwealth Corporation” when requesting a Certificate of Compliance through the DUA self-service portal. The Commonwealth Corporation has outlined detailed steps to obtain this certificate.
  • The Certificate of Compliance is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and must be valid at the time of the grant application.
  • You must ensure you request the version of the Certificate of Compliance that confirms compliance with the DUA, and ALSO verifies that your organization pays into the Workforce Training Fund or your most recently filed employee count.
    • Please ensure you indicate that you need your certificate for “Commonwealth Corporation” compliance by following the detailed guide linked above.

Questions?
For assistance with resolving compliance issues related to your DUA account, please contact the DUA Revenue Enforcement Unit directly at revenue.enforcement@mass.gov, or 617-626-5075, Option 4.

Reach out to the BE+ Education team at education@builtenvironmentplus.org with questions about completing the Express Grant application to take our courses for free!