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NEW BEDFORD — The state has granted nearly $500,000 to MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board Inc. to train over 100 workers as nursing assistants.
The goal is “to address the ongoing healthcare workforce shortage across Southeastern Massachusetts,” according to the grant narrative provided by the organization.
The Workforce Board is one of 12 organizations to receive part of the $5.9 million allotted for workforce development across the state.
MassHire Greater New Bedford applied as the lead applicant for the grant, representing several other MassHire workforce boards, spanning Bristol County, Brockton, and the South Shore — a region they said spans 60 communities.
“The nursing homes, the medical field, has a need,” MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board’s executive director and CEO, Michael Santos, said in an interview. “There’s always going to be a need for CNAs.”
Certified nursing assistants, also known as CNAs or nurse aides, help nursing home residents with direct daily care, such as eating, bathing and moving around.
The grant comes amid a worsening shortage of nursing assistants. One in three Massachusetts nursing homes failed to meet the state standard for nursing staff levels at the end of 2025, The Light recently reported.
The region immediately needs over 226 more CNAs, and it faces a projected 496 CNA vacancies over the next two years, according to data MassHire Greater New Bedford compiled to apply for the grant in May. MassHire is aiming to train and place 122 participants as CNAs through the grant.
This money comes as Haitian workers who held Temporary Protected Status have been losing their jobs as they lose TPS. At least 2,000 Massachusetts TPS holders worked in the elder care and assisted living industries, The Light previously reported.
According to Helena DaSilva Hughes, president of the Immigrants’ Assistance Center, the impacts of these job losses are still to come.
“By the end of the year we are going to really see the impact,” DaSilva Hughes said, adding that she thinks other immigrant communities are at risk of losing TPS in the coming months.
DaSilva Hughes is also an at-large member of MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board’s executive committee. She said the healthcare industry would have to raise wages if it hires from the general population.
A work authorization will be required to participate in the CNA program. There have been no reported instances of people losing work authorization in the middle of their training, MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board senior director Jacqueline Sylvia said.
Eleven healthcare providers have committed to considering participants who complete the CNA program, including Alden Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fairhaven, High Point Treatment Center in New Bedford, and Southcoast Hospital Group, as well as Home Care for Seniors Massachusetts in Westport, a branch of the Home Instead franchise.
Last week, Lauren Langevin, vice president of marketing at Home Care for Seniors Massachusetts, said that she was not aware of the grant award, but that she would look into it because the partnership would be “very helpful.”
Additionally, Home Instead offers its own training program, she said.
“We take that really seriously,” Langevin said of hiring people with little experience and helping them get into the workforce, “and we really like to help people out.”
CNA training consists of four to five weeks of classes. MassHire Greater New Bedford partners with several healthcare training organizations and community colleges in the region. Since January 2024, MassHire Greater New Bedford has trained 270 CNAs.
“CNA is a critical occupation,” Sylvia said. “It needs to be sustained in terms of training for.”
The two-year grant, which starts January 2027, will expand on work done for years to solidify the longevity of the CNA program under previous grants. Another state grant that allotted over $2 million to the organization is retiring at the end of 2026.
Anna Albrecht, a journalism student at Boston University, is a summer intern at The New Bedford Light. She can be reached at aalbrecht@newbedfordlight.org.
While illegals received Millions.
As a cna 15 years experience it’s really alarming the way cna gets treated by everyone . Cna needs good pay no staff
Is the state going to pay for people to attend CNA courses ? Anyone know how to apply ? And do citizens/non-Haitians qualify ? There have been programs like certain rental assistance grants that have not been open to non-migrants. Americans need the work, because we are not getting any help with the outrageous cost of living. I want to know who is able to get education assistance.
Have you looked at Clinical Laboratory vacancies? 70% of medical decisions are based on clinical laboratory test results and our two programs (UMass and BCC) are starving for faculty, plenty of applicants.