Discover our mission, values, and leadership.
Explore benefits that power your success.
Browse our network of businesses.
Explore opportunities to connect and grow.
Join on us on Friday, January 30, as we host our highly anticipated 2026 Pinnacle Awards Luncheon.
01/30/2026
11:00am - 1:30pm
Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Take advantage of exclusive perks and programs for members.
Browse our directory to find and connect with member community.
Join experiences that build relationships and spark ideas.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.
The Chamber Foundation invites the business community to engage with Boston Public Schools leaders and their students to help build the future workforce.
Level up your leadership and communication in this Boston Chamber workshop for professionals—gain essential skills in team alignment.
Learn how we advance talent and small business growth.
Explore our key priorities and strategic efforts.
Join us at our next Foundation event.
May 19, 2025
Dear Senate President Spilka and Chairman Rodrigues:
The Massachusetts Business Coalition on Skills (MBCS), a coalition of 27 diverse business organizations that support strengthening workforce skills development programs and policies, appreciates the Senate’s continued prioritization of reskilling our workforce of today and tomorrow by allocating critical funds throughout the State budget. The MBCS is encouraged to see significant investments in skills development, which includes line items that will create work-based learning opportunities, support essential skills development, and enhance Career Vocational/Technical Education (CVTE). As you debate on the FY26 budget, the coalition urges you to take our below priorities into consideration.
Experiential Learning
Employers embrace experiential learning models because they are proven ways to strengthen both essential and job-specific skills. Learn-and-earn models like internships and apprenticeships benefit employees who develop skills in a real work environment. Employers also benefit because they can train employees with the specific skills for their industry or job needs. School-to-career connecting activities are public-private partnerships that provide on-the-job learning opportunities for students. The coalition urges maintaining level funding for Registered Apprenticeship Expansions (7003-0151) and increasing funding for School-to-Career Connecting Activities by adopting Amendment #623 (Lewis).
Line Item Line Item Description FY 2026
7003-0151 Registered Apprenticeship Expansion $3,315,140
7027-0019 School-to-Career Connecting Activities $6,531,266
Essential Skills Development
Essential skills, also known as non-technical skills, are critical for career success. The coalition supports funding YouthBuild, the state’s program that prepares students to enter the workforce and develop essential skills for a successful career and requests that level funding be maintained.
7061-9626 YouthBuild Grants $3,000,000
Enhance CVTE
CVTE is an effective method for training our next generation of talent with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce. We would ask that you continue your critical investments by restoring the Innovation Pathways Expansion (7027-0020) to its FY25 level.
We were pleased to see the Senate earmark excess surtax funding to prioritize CVTE expansion (1596-2513) in the recently passed surtax spending bill. This funding increases student access to CVTE by expanding existing capacity. As you are well aware, the demand for seats at our Vocational-Technical schools has continued to far outpace current capacity limits, and the additional funding found within this budget (7035-0001) will help prepare our students for in-demand jobs in all regions of the Commonwealth. We would ask that you further increase funding for this important line item by adopting Amendment #657 (Cronin).
7027-0020 Innovation Pathways Expansion $4,808,927
7035-0001 CVTE Expansion Grants $3,118,500
Support our Career Technical Institutes
Increasing funding for Career Technical Institutes will extend additional CVTE opportunities to adult learners by building out industry recognized credentialing pathways in technical and trade fields. This benefits both program participants and employers who are seeking talent amid a shortage of workers. The coalition urges you to increase funding for this item by adopting Amendment #692 (Gomez).
7002-1091 Career Technical Institutes $8,985,600
Thank you for prioritizing the workforce and employers of today and tomorrow. The Coalition looks forward to being a resource as the Legislature continues to prioritize skills development and attainment.
Massachusetts Business Coalition on Skills
1Berkshire
Amplify Latinx
Bedford Area Chamber
Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
Blackstone Valley Chamber
Cape Cod Chamber
Charles River Regional Chamber
Greater Boston Chamber
Kendall Square Association
Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council
Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
Nashoba Valley Chamber
Neponset River Regional Chamber
North Central Massachusetts Chamber
North Shore Chamber
One SouthCoast Chamber
Quincy Chamber
Retailers Association of Massachusetts
Somerville Chamber
Springfield Regional Chamber
Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council
Worcester Regional Chamber
Popular Resources