MA State Budget Includes Workforce Dollars for Recreational Boating

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed the 2026 state budget, which included $150,000 in funding for workforce development and career technical education initiatives within the recreational boating industry. This funding will continue the initiatives and progress that the Massachusetts Marine Trades Association (MMTA) has made to help meet the workforce challenges within the industry.

The funds were introduced via budget amendments sponsored in the Senate by Senator Patrick O’Connor of the Plymouth and Norfolk District, and in the House by Representative Jessica Giannino, of the 16th Suffolk District, joined in leadership by Senator Paul Feeney, and Representative Steven Xiarhos, the four co-chairs of the 60-plus member Legislative Boating Caucus.

Funding received by the state is used to support schools providing training within the recreational boating industry. Whether through existing or new programs, MMTA’s goal is to help the many educational facilities that train future leaders within the recreational boating industry. Recognizing the significance of workforce training in the industry and to highlight the need for new employees, the MMTA, working with their educational trust, has also created various data points for the industry, including a school overview project and a recent workforce wage and benefits study, which can be found on the primary job/career site, www.massboatingcareers.com. Additional funding is utilized to provide financial assistance for employee training and for Tools of the Trade funding, which provides gift cards for new or existing employees to help build their toolboxes to help in their current positions within the industry. The money also enables MMTA to continue marketing outreach and development to connect current and future workers with available jobs, such as through www.massboatingcareers.com and MMTA’s workforce videos.