Massachusetts advances new manufacturing, apprenticeship funding in last state budget of FY 2019

Nearly a month after the start of the new fiscal year, Massachusetts legislators have approved an FY 2019 budget. Science and innovation stakeholders may find it worth the wait. Included in the $42 billion budget are new funding for a precision manufacturing initiative that will fund multiple, local activities ($2.7 million) and $500,000 for registered apprenticeships. A wide range of programs received at least twice as much funding as in FY 2018, including: MEP ($2 million in FY 2019); John Adams Innovation Institute ($2.5 million); Microlending grants ($300,000); Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation technical assistance program ($2 million); Massachusetts Biomedical Initiative Inc. ($500,000); and, University of Massachusetts Innovation Commercialization Seed Fund ($500,000).

Despite this positive movement, stakeholders are waiting on one more step in the process. Governor Charlie Baker is yet to sign the budget, and legislators advanced a budget more than $400 million greater than the line-item veto veteran had signaled he would accept. He has until July 27 to make his decisions.