MLSC Pathmaker
Supports Massachusetts organizations building life sciences career pathways aligned with hiring demand.
Pathmaker is a rolling grant program administered by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) as part of the Commonwealth's MassTalent workforce development initiative. The program funds training organizations that are building scalable career pathway programs into high-demand Massachusetts life sciences roles, with a specific focus on workers who lack prior scientific work experience or higher education credentials. As of the program's last public update, Pathmaker has funded more than 500 training opportunities. Specific award amounts are not listed on the program landing page and applicants are directed to the solicitation for those details.
Eligible applicants are organizations — for-profit companies, nonprofits, and educational institutions — that are designing and delivering career training programs aligned with direct hiring demand in the Massachusetts life sciences industry. Research organizations are not eligible. Each applicant must demonstrate at least one active industry partnership that documents a concrete hiring need for the roles being trained; a program without an industry partner committed to hiring graduates will not qualify. The program is described as currently accepting applications on a rolling basis, with no published deadlines.
Applications are submitted through MLSC's Submittable portal, and inquiries are handled at Pathmaker@masslifesciences.com. Competitive proposals will articulate a specific skills gap in a high-demand life sciences occupation in Massachusetts, present a scalable training model with documented employer demand, and show how graduates will be placed into jobs — not just trained. The MassTalent affiliation signals that the program is part of a broader state workforce strategy, so alignment with Massachusetts-specific labor market priorities (such as biomanufacturing, clinical operations, and laboratory technician pipelines) will strengthen an application.
Grants for training organizations building scalable career pathways into high-demand Massachusetts life sciences roles, targeting workers without prior scientific experience or higher education.
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