The Workforce Training Fund (WTF) is a state fund financed entirely by Massachusetts employers, through a surcharge attached to their unemployment contributions. Enacted into law in July 1998, its purpose is to provide resources to Massachusetts businesses and workers to train current and newly hired employees. The WTF funds a broad variety of training initiatives including foundation skill development (ESOL/ABE). For more information go to www.detma.org.

The Extended Care Career Ladder Initiative (ECCLI) is a publicly funded program that seeks to create career pathways at long term health care facilities beginning with food service workers and housekeeping staff and extending through nursing staff. Foundation skills are taught alongside job skills. For more information go to http://www.commcorp.org/cwi/Eccli/default.htm.

The Building Essential Skills Through Training Initiative (BEST) pools the resources of several Massachusetts agencies, including the Division of Employment and Training, Department of Labour and Workforce Development, and the Department of Education, to fund projects that will close the gap between the skills employers need and the skills that incumbent workers have. For more information go to http://www.commcorp.org/cwi/best/default.htm

John Antonellis teaches English as a Second Language at the Bridge to Learning and Literacy Program at Harvard University.