Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program

What Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program does

The Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program (RWDDP) is a state-funded grant program administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public workforce development agency established in 1996 under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD). The program funds occupationally focused training, credentialing, job placement, and retention support services for returning citizens — individuals within 180 days of release from incarceration or released up to 18 months prior to enrollment. It is funded annually through line item 7003-0150 of the Commonwealth's General Appropriations Act.

RWDDP distributes grants of up to $250,000 to partnerships comprising community-based organizations, vocational training providers, MassHire Workforce Boards, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, and county Houses of Correction. Grantees have a 12-month delivery window and must achieve job placements retaining participants for at least 30 days within 3 months of the grant period end, with a maximum program cost of $15,000 per successful employment outcome. The current (FY26) RFP makes $2.25 million in total grants available. In FY2024, program graduates were hired by 79 Massachusetts employers at an average placement wage of $21.57 per hour.

RWDDP is one of several grant programs under Commonwealth Corporation's portfolio, which also includes YouthWorks, the Workforce Training Fund Program, the Career Technical Initiative, RISE Grants, MAP-IT for skilled immigrants, and programs for young adults with disabilities. The program markets through Commonwealth Corporation's website, monthly newsletter, and press releases; has no proprietary technology stack; and operates exclusively within Massachusetts. Revenue is a pass-through of state appropriations, not market-generated, making program scale contingent on annual legislative funding decisions.

Name

Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program

Legal name

Commonwealth Corporation

Website

https://commcorp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program is a Massachusetts state-funded grant initiative administered by Commonwealth Corporation that provides occupationally focused training and job placement services for returning citizens through partnerships with CBOs, training providers, MassHire Boards, and correctional facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Employment Services (5613), Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (923130)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAOAG

Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYBPAKANAH

Reentry, Rehabilitation & Reintegration Programs (Education, Vocational, Case Management)

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Corrections, Detention & Prisoner Transport Services

SECONDARYBPAGAEAN

Reentry & Justice-Involved Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Workforce development grants
• Reentry employment services
• Occupational training programs
• Returning citizen support
• Justice-involved workforce

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grant Funding: Funded through line item 7003-0150 of the Commonwealth's General Appropriations Act, the program distributes annual grant funding to partnerships that support returning citizens with occupationally focused training and comprehensive support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program (RWDDP) is a state-funded grant program administered by Commonwealth Corporation that awards up to $250,000 per applicant (with $2.25 million available in the current funding cycle) to community-based organizations, training providers, MassHire Workforce Boards, Department of Corrections, and Houses of Correction. Grantees deliver occupationally focused training, credentialing, and comprehensive support services to individuals returning to their communities after incarceration, with the goal of placing and retaining participants in employment for at least 30 days within 3 months of grant period end.

Product overview

The Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program (RWDDP) is a grant program administered by Commonwealth Corporation that funds occupationally focused training and placement services for returning citizens. The program serves individuals who will be released within 180 days of a Grant Program start date and/or individuals who were released up to 18 months prior to enrolling. It is part of Commonwealth Corporation's broader portfolio of workforce development programs that also includes the Career Technical Initiative (CTI), Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF), Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP), YouthWorks, and programs targeting young adults with disabilities, skilled immigrants, and English language learners. RWDDP is distinct in its focus on justice-impacted populations and is funded through line item 7003-0150 of the Commonwealth's General Appropriations Act.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YouthWorks: State-funded employment program helping teens and young adults (aged 14-25) build skills and experience through paid work experiences during summer and school year
• Career Technical Initiative (CTI)
• Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (WCTF)
• Workforce Training Fund Program (WTFP)
• Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program (RWDDP)
• MAP-IT (Massachusetts Advancing Pathways for International Talent)
• Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities
• Skill Up

Products and services

• Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program (RWDDP) A grant program that funds occupationally focused training and comprehensive support services for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. Grantees are Massachusetts-based community-based organizations, training providers, MassHire Workforce Boards, Department of Corrections, and Houses of Correction; grants of up to $250,000 support a 12-month delivery period and a maximum investment target of $15,000 per successful employment outcome, with participants required to secure and retain employment for at least 30 days within 3 months of grant period end.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average placement hourly wage of $21.57 in FY2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MassHire Workforce BoardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce boards partner with the program to coordinate training and employment services for returning citizens across Massachusetts, facilitating employer engagement and job placement.
• Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCommunity organizations apply for grants to deliver occupationally focused training and support services directly to returning citizens in their communities.
• Training ProviderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEducational and vocational training institutions partner to provide occupationally focused training that leads to credentials and employment for program participants.
• Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState correctional facilities partner to identify and prepare individuals for program enrollment prior to release.
• Houses of Correction (HOCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty correctional facilities partner similarly to DOC to prepare individuals for workforce re-entry through the program.
• Massachusetts EmployerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal employers hire program graduates, providing employment opportunities for returning citizens. In FY2024, 79 employers hired program graduates at an average hourly wage of $21.57.
• Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)coreOthersCommonwealth Corporation administers the program in partnership with EOLWD, which provides oversight and funding through the state's General Appropriations Act (line item 7003-0150).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Council of State Governments Justice Center: Nonpartisan policy organization that shapes state and federal reentry policy and funding, including workforce pathways for justice-involved individuals — comparable policy and program design focus.

Direct peers

• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate employment, retention, and career advancement support for people returning from incarceration — directly comparable mission and reentry workforce delivery model.
• Rubicon Programs: California nonprofit delivering workforce development, reentry support, and wraparound services to formerly incarcerated individuals — comparable integrated training-and-placement model.
• Safer Foundation: Illinois-based nonprofit providing workforce training, job placement, and supportive services to justice-involved individuals — closely mirrors RWDDP's occupational training and placement approach.
• Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR): Virginia-based reentry nonprofit providing employment assistance, case management, and training for justice-involved individuals — comparable scope and target population.
• The Fortune Society: New York-based reentry organization offering workforce development, employment placement, and comprehensive support services for formerly incarcerated individuals — comparable integrated reentry model.

Broad incumbents

• Texas Workforce Commission: State agency administering workforce training, employment services, and reentry-related programming — comparable state-government workforce development function at much larger scale.
• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit with reentry-specific workforce programs operating across multiple states — broader footprint but overlapping mission of workforce training and placement for justice-involved populations.
• California Workforce Development Board: State-level workforce policy and investment body analogous to Commonwealth Corporation's oversight role — comparable governance structure and grant-making function for state-funded workforce programs.

Others

• National Reentry Resource Center: Federally funded information hub providing training and technical assistance to reentry service providers — comparable target ecosystem and enabling role for reentry workforce programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/commcorp_ma
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommonwealthCorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commonwealthcorporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/commcorp_ma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Re-entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program