Governor Deval Patrick is proving his commitment to the City of Homes by announcing millions of dollars in funding. Gov. Patrick said the state will be pumping in $2.1 million in grants to help boost the local economy with workforce training grants, infrastructure repairs and identifying growth districts.

Governor Patrick made his way from the South End to Court Square on Monday, stopping at local businesses to make his big announcement.

"We believe it is essential for Springfield as a whole to get stronger and stay strong," said Gov. Patrick.

$2 million will be directed toward improving Armory Street, from the 291 rotary to STCC. Business owners along the road say improving the areas curb appeal will help their business.

"If people see nice clean streets, they are more likely to come to your business," said Jorge Perez, Owner of the Puerto Rico Restaurant and Bakery on Armory Street.

More than $150,000 is also going to Workforce Training to four local companies to help them hire and retain more than a hundred workers.

"Recognizing that we have people that need skills for the jobs that we have available right now. We have 125,000 people looking for work in Massachusetts and over 90,000 vacancies," said Gov. Patrick.

The Governor also identified Main Street and State Street Corridors as "Growth Districts."

The administration will work with the "targeted" area for commercial and residential growth.

"It means this is now the focus of the states attention, if they are going to do a project in Springfield, this is the uniting principal," said David Panagore, Chief Development Officer for the City of Springfield.

The Governor said all of this is vital to the city as a whole. "We want Springfield not just to survive, but to thrive."