How do I determine if my business is eligible to receive a General Program grant?

Modified on Mon, Nov 25 at 1:29 PM

To determine if your organization is eligible to receive a General Program grant through the Workforce Training Fund, a key piece of information you’ll need to know is if and how your organization pays into the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance (MA UI) system. This is because the Workforce Training Fund derives its funds from a small surcharge levied on payments made by businesses to state UI via the contributory method.

Eligible Organizations: Are typically for-profit companies and non-profit companies who make regular, quarterly payments into MA UI.

Ineligible Organizations: Federal, State, Municipal and government organizations. Non-profits who make UI payments using the 'reimbursable method' (i.e. are self-insured).

If you're not sure which category you fall into, or if you are a non-profit the best first step is to check with your HR/payroll department or payroll system. Oftentimes, how businesses pay into UI is determined by how they are legally organized.

Please read the article below for more information on how for-profits, nonprofits/not-for-profits, sole proprietorships, government agencies, or community colleges pay—or don’t pay—into UI.

Resource: Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (n.d.). Employers subject to unemployment insurance (UI) contributions. https://www.mass.gov/service-details/employers-subject-to-unemployment-insurance-ui-contributions