What can I do to get ready for Express Program applications to reopen in State Fiscal Year 2026?

Modified on Mon, Jun 9 at 3:44 PM

While we do not have an exact date for our application to reopen, we plan on reopening at the beginning of State Fiscal Year 2026 (starting in July 2025). You can check the status of the fund reopening here.

If you have not already been awarded funding for training, and you wish to be reimbursed for future training per Express Program guidelines, please do not start any new training until you are able to submit an application. When we reopen, applications will still need to be submitted at least 21 days prior to the start of training.

While you wait, please see below for the items you can start working on so that you are ready to submit your application when we reopen in the next fiscal year.

Step 1: Understand Express Program guidelines, and confirm your organization is eligible to apply for Express Program grant funding	You can view our full list of Express Program guidelines here. Additionally, the following FAQ's provide some more detail on specific eligibility requirements and steps you will need to take to be ready to apply: What is the Express Program and how do I apply?* How can I determine if my organization is eligible to receive an Express Program grant? Which of my employees are eligible for funding? *There is an informative attachment at the end of this FAQ, which is also attached to the end of this FAQ.
Step 2: Ensure all compliance documentation is up-to-date and ready to go	This FAQ provides a rundown of all the documents you will need to collect prior to applying: What compliance checks are required to be approved for a Workforce Training Fund Grant? These documents include (more details can be found in the FAQ above): A Form W-9 dated in the current FY A valid Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue dated within 6 months of the date you apply (NEW) A Certificate of Compliance from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) that has not expired by the date of application submission (see here for details on how to obtain a Certificate of Compliance from the DUA)
Step 3: Figure out which course(s) your organization wants to take/connect with training provider	In order to apply for funding, you must also know which course you are applying for. To view our list of preapproved courses, you can search our Express Course Directory here. Please note that Commonwealth Corporation makes no endorsement regarding the quality of the training providers/courses listed in the directory. Businesses must conduct their own research and are responsible for confirming course availability and pricing with their selected training providers prior to submitting an application. Commonwealth Corporation also does not offer the training listed in the directory ourselves, nor do we coordinate training (e.g., sign up, start and end dates, etc.) on behalf of the providers listed in our directory. Prior to applying for funding, you should reach out to the training provider and confirm course scheduling/details.
Step 4: Wait for Express Program Application to reopen	When we reopen for the new Fiscal Year, we will post an update here: https://commcorp.org/workforce-training-fund-policy-updates/