Workforce Training Fund Workshop

OnTuesday December 4th 2012 , the Cape & Islands Workforce Investment Board, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and the Workforce Education Resource Center of Cape Cod Community College, are sponsoring a workshop that will assist local employers to access state training grants for up to $250,000. The goal of this workshop is to provide information to Cape businesses that will allow them to successfully compete for these grants.

Over the years, the fund has been operating since 1998, over 45 local businesses have received more than $3.5 million of grant funding through the Workforce Training Fund. Many of the successful applicants started the process at a similar workshop.

Here is some background information about the fund:

The Workforce Training Fund’s purpose is to provide resources to Massachusetts businesses and workers to train current and newly hired employees.

Types of Training Fund Grants

1. Express Grant: The mission of the Workforce Training Fund Express Program is to provide smaller organizations (up to 50 employees) with the resources to invest in their workforce and improve employee skills, and to maintain the economic strength and viability of the Commonwealth’s businesses. Training funded by this program should address the priorities of the fund:

•  Projects that will result in job retention, job growth or increased wages.

•   Projects where training would make a difference in the company’s productivity, competitiveness, and ability to do business in Massachusetts. Small companies can apply for up to $15,000 in matching funds.

Deadline for applications: open

2. General and Technical Assistance Grants

General Training Grants are direct grants awarded competitively to employers, employer organizations, labor organizations and training providers, to train current and newly hired workers. General Program recipients within the last two years will not be considered for new grants until the two years have elapsed. Matching grants are available for up to $250,000.

Technical assistance grants are grants to help an employer, or a group of employers or employees, determine a set of training needs. Eligible applicants for Technical Assistance grants include industry associations, labor organizations, community colleges, administrative entities for local workforce investment areas, and other entities with expertise in providing technical assistance for training.

Deadline for applications: Open

3. Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG) This program assists in paying training costs for newly hired employees who are unemployed for at least 6 months or more.  As a preference for veterans, the 6-month waiting period is waived for qualified veterans. Employers can use a training provider of their choice if they choose to use an external trainer or they may use qualified employees of the company to conduct internal training of new hires.

Deadline for applications: Application must be submitted within 30 days of new hire’s start date.

At the workshop Michael Corcoran, of the Workforce Training Fund Program, will describe how local businesses who pay into the state unemployment insurance system can get up to $250,000 to train their workers in two-year program cycles. Business owners and managers will also have the opportunity to hear local recipients of Training Fund grants describe their experience with Workforce Training Fund Program.

The December 4th session is scheduled to run from 8:00 – 10:00 AM at the Cape Cod Community College Hyannis Center, 540 Main St, Hyannis, MA 02601. Free parking is available and coffee and refreshments will be served.

The workshop is free, but we ask that you register by emailing Razza Millard at razza@ciwib.org, or by phone at 508 775-5900.