MA Gov. Charlie Baker has announced the launch of the state's "HireNow" program aimed at helping employers quickly bring new employees onboard and train them during the recovery of businesses from the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are currently around 200,000 unfilled jobs in Massachusetts.

The new program offers eligible employers grants of $4000 per new employee that can be used to cover training costs, reimburse tuition or to give signing bonuses.

The program is open to all non-governmental Massachusetts employers.

Here's the fine print, from the official program brochure:

• Employer must be in "good standing" with the State of MA.
• New employees must be hired by 31 December 2022, and retained for at least 60 days.
• Employees must be MA residents, work in MA for at least 30 hours/week, and be paid at least minimum wage but not more than $85,000/year.
• Employers can receive a max of $400,000 in grants.
• Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Note however that there are 2 different rules in this brochure that seem mutually incompatible:
  1. "[E]mployers...can be reimbursed for costs associated with supporting new employees..."
  2. "Employers...will receive a fixed rate of $4000/employee..."

Get more info at hirenow@commcorp.org

(FYI, CommCorp is a "quasi-public agency" under the MA Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.)