Massachusetts employers already pay into a fund that can cover the cost of English classes for their employees. The Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP) reimburses eligible businesses for training current and newly hired staff, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is one of its stated priorities, with special exceptions that make English classes easier to fund than most other training.

The hard part for most employers isn't qualifying. It's the application. This guide walks through both paths, the Express Program for pre-approved courses and the General Program for a custom curriculum, along with the documents to gather and the timelines to plan around, so your corporate English training can start sooner and cost less.

What the Workforce Training Fund is, and who can apply

The Workforce Training Fund is a Massachusetts state fund created in 1998 and financed entirely by employers through a surcharge on their unemployment insurance (UI) contributions. It is administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public agency under the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Your organization is generally eligible if:

• It pays into the fund. All for-profit employers that pay Massachusetts UI contributions do. Nonprofits qualify only if they use the "contributory" UI method; those on the "reimbursable" method don't pay into the fund and can't apply. Government agencies are not eligible.
• The trainees work in Massachusetts. Your headquarters can be out of state, but every employee you train must be on your payroll with Massachusetts as their primary workplace. Contract workers are not eligible.
• You are in good standing. You'll need to be current on state taxes, reporting and UI obligations.

Full-time and part-time employees both qualify, which matters for English programs that often serve hourly and shift workers.

Express or General: which path fits your English program?

The Express Program is the fast lane for smaller employers buying pre-approved courses. The General Program funds a larger, customized training plan built with a provider of your choice. Since April 1, 2026, eligible employers can use both at the same time.

	Express Program	General Program
Who it's for	Employers with 100 or fewer Massachusetts employees	Employers of any size
What it funds	Pre-approved courses from the Express Course Directory	A custom training plan you design with a provider
Funding	Up to 100% reimbursement, up to $3,000 per person per course, $300 per instructional hour and $15,000 per calendar year	Grants of $10,000 to $200,000 over two years
Employer match	None	Dollar-for-dollar, but ESOL modules are exempt
How it's awarded	Pre-approval of listed courses	Competitive review
Lead time	Apply at least 21 days before training	Decision usually within 60 days of a complete application
Best for	A single ESOL class or cohort that fits a listed course	A multi-level, job-specific program across shifts, sites or departments

The General Program's ESOL exception is worth highlighting. Normally, employers must match grant funds dollar for dollar, often through the wages employees earn during training. Applications that include workplace ESOL don't have to match the ESOL portion, as long as the rest of the plan meets the match on its own.

How to apply through the Express Program, step by step

Commonwealth Corporation pre-approves every ESOL course in the Express Course Directory, so there's no proposal to write. Each listed course has a set number of hours and learning objectives, delivered by a live instructor. Fully self-paced courses aren't eligible, but live classes are, including online English training for employees taught by live teachers, a good fit for small or multi-shift teams.

1. Confirm your employee count. Count your W-2 employees who work in Massachusetts at the time you apply. It must be 100 or fewer.
2. Find your course. In the Express Course Directory, check the "ESOL Courses" filter and search. Note the course ID, provider, hours and cost. Your provider can confirm the right course and level for your group.
3. Plan your dates. Pick a start date at least 21 days out, and list the employees you plan to enroll.
4. Submit the application online. Apply through Commonwealth Corporation's Express portal with your business details and the course ID.
5. Accept the award. If approved, you'll e-sign an Express Service Agreement. Don't start classes before the agreement's start date, or the training won't be reimbursed.
6. Run the training. Your employees attend the course, and your provider tracks attendance.
7. Pay the provider, then request reimbursement. Once training is complete and the invoice is fully paid, submit a reimbursement request with the provider's invoice, proof of payment and the attendee roster. Submit it promptly; past guidance has set a 30-day window after the course ends, so check your agreement for the current deadline.

How to apply through the General Program, step by step

The General Program takes more work up front, but it lets you build a workforce English training program around your jobs, your schedules and your employees' levels. Grants are competitive and reviewed on a rolling basis.

1. Define the business need. Reviewers look for training that leads to job retention, job growth or higher wages, and that improves productivity or competitiveness. Tie English to concrete problems, such as safety communication, quality errors or employees who can't move into lead roles.
2. Choose a training partner and build the curriculum. Work with your provider to set placement testing, class levels, job-specific modules, hours per week, the number of trainees and a schedule that fits your shifts. Training must be completed within two years and can't replace training you already pay for.
3. Contact the WTFP team about ESOL. If your plan includes ESOL, Commonwealth Corporation asks applicants to email WTFP@commcorp.org before applying for guidance on the ESOL exceptions.
4. Build the budget and match. Grant funds cover provider fees, tuition and training supplies. Your match can include trainees' wages and benefits during class hours and prorated use of space. ESOL modules are exempt from the match if the rest of the plan meets it.
5. Gather your documents and submit. Apply online with the documents listed below. Applications are screened by staff, reviewed by the Workforce Training Fund Advisory Board, and shared with your local workforce board for comment.
6. Sign the contract before training starts. If approved, you'll sign a grant contract with WTFP staff. Expenses from before the contract period aren't covered. The first payment is usually a 25% advance.
7. Deliver, report and get paid. Submit quarterly activity reports and expense reports to release each next 25% payment. The final payment is a reimbursement after your final report.

What documentation to prepare

Missing or inaccurate paperwork can stall an application or delay a reimbursement. Gather these before you start.

For an Express application:

• Basic business details, including your Massachusetts unemployment insurance information
• An accurate count of W-2 employees working in Massachusetts on the date you apply
• The Express course ID, provider name, course dates and cost
• The names of employees you plan to enroll

For an Express reimbursement:

• The provider's invoice, showing the course name exactly as it appears on your Express Service Agreement, the provider's name and your business name
• Proof that you paid the invoice in full
• The attendee roster

For a General Program application:

• A Massachusetts Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing issued within the last six months (not a certificate of incorporation)
• Recent financial statements, which are kept confidential by law
• A training plan with modules, hours, trainee counts and job titles, schedule and provider details
• A budget showing grant-funded costs and your matching contributions
• A short description of the business need and expected results, such as retention, wage gains or productivity

After a General Program award: quarterly activity reports, expense reports with documentation for both grant-funded and matching costs, attendance records and a final performance report.

Typical timelines

Stage	Express Program	General Program
Prepare	1 to 2 weeks to pick a course and gather details	Several weeks to design the curriculum, budget and match
Apply	At least 21 days before the first class	Rolling; decision usually within 60 days of a complete application
Start	On or after the Express Service Agreement start date	Only after the grant contract is signed
Train	Course length, typically a few weeks to a few months	Up to two years
Get paid	After training ends and you've paid the provider; reimbursements have typically been processed within about 30 days of a complete request	25% advance at contracting, further payments after expense reports, final reimbursement at close

Two timing tips:

• Apply early in the state fiscal year. The fund has a fixed annual budget. In State Fiscal Year 2025, funding ran out and applications for both programs were paused until the new fiscal year began in July. Applying in the summer or fall lowers that risk.
• Plan your next General grant. After a General Program grant ends, there's a one-year waiting period before you can apply for another one, so map out a two-year program rather than a series of short ones.

More than a classroom: help with the paperwork

Most HR teams don't have time to become grant experts. Language Training Pro supports employers through the whole process, not just the classes:

• Choosing the right path. We look at your headcount, goals and timeline and help you decide between Express, General or both.
• Building the training plan. For General Program applications, we design the curriculum, placement testing, levels and schedule, and provide the training details your application needs.
• Preparing the budget. We help you outline grant-funded costs and identify matching contributions, including how the ESOL exception applies.
• Keeping the records. We track attendance and provide the invoices, rosters and training documentation you need for reimbursements and quarterly reports.
• Delivering results you can report. Our workplace English training is built around your jobs, with regular assessments that show progress.

The result is English training for employees that's funded, documented and focused on your business, with far less administrative work on your side.

Let the fund pay for your team's English classes

Tell us how many employees need corporate English language training, where they work and when you'd like to start. We'll recommend the right grant path and outline what your application will need.

Request a quote to find out how much of your English program the Workforce Training Fund could cover, and how soon classes could begin.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Program rules, caps and deadlines are set by Commonwealth Corporation and can change. Always review the current guidelines before applying.

• Commonwealth Corporation, Workforce Training Fund Policy Update, effective April 1, 2026
• Commonwealth Corporation, Express Program Guidelines and Express Program ESOL page
• Commonwealth Corporation, General Program FAQ