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Skills Coalition Outlines Priorities for FY27 Senate Budget

May 15, 2026

 

Senate President Karen Spilka
Massachusetts Senate
State House, Room 332
Boston, MA 02133

 

Senator Michael Rodrigues, Chair
Senate Committee on Ways and Means
State House, Room 212
Boston, MA 02133

 

Dear Senate President Spilka and Chair 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 begin debate on the FY27 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 funding for Registered Apprenticeship Expansions (7003-0151), and to adopt Amendment #610 (Rush) to increase the School-to-Career Connecting Activities (7027-0019) appropriation to $8M.

FY 2027

7003-0151 Registered Apprenticeship Expansion $3,333,577

7027-0019 School-to-Career Connecting Activities $6,472,081

Essential Skills Development

Essential skills, also known as non-technical skills, are critical for career success. The coalition supports funding YouthBuild (7061-9626), the state’s program that prepares students to enter the workforce and develop essential skills for a successful career. We would like to thank you for including $3M in funding for this line item.

FY 2027

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 are appreciative of the increased funding for the Innovation Pathways Expansion (7027-0020) program found in this proposal and are supportive of the Senate’s proposal to use surtax funds to increase this line item to $7.6M

We are grateful for the Senate’s continued investments into CVTE expansion. 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.

FY 2027

7027-0020 Career Technical Partnership Grants $7,764,496

7035-0001 CVTE Expansion Grants $3,087,315

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 to match the FY26 appropriation $9.1M.

FY 2027

7002-1091 Career Technical Institutes $8,898,244

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
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