Training Grants: Provides matching grants, ranging from $2,000 to $250,000 (under some circumstances up to $1 million) to employers, employer groups and labor organization. Grants are for customized training to achieve outcomes as determined by the applicant. The duration of grant is up to two years.

Technical Assistance Grants: Provides matching grants up to $25,000 to employers to secure outside assistance to identify training needs, develop a training plan or curriculum or other training-related activities.

How it Works: Employers must submit an application on or before one of three application deadlines. Deadlines are usually in July, November and March. Applications include a paper application and company financials for the most recent two-year period. Applications are reviewed by staff teams and recommended to the WTF Advisory Panel for a final decision. Decisions are made approximately 60 days from the application deadline. If funded, grant recipients receive an initial start-up payment of 25% of the grant funds with three remaining progress payments. Recipients are required to maintain and submit documentation that is sufficient to determine that the training is being conducted as approved.

Advantages:

• Applicants are able to design and develop training based on specific, local company need. With few exceptions, all job-related training and all employees are eligible under the WTF grant.
• Applicants may select a training provider or providers of their own choosing, including internal staff who have the knowledge and expertise to deliver training to company employees.
• All goals, objectives and outcomes are of the applicant’s choosing.
• Applicants can meet match requirement through in-kind contribution, as well as cash match.

Eligibility: All employers who contribute to the Workforce Training Fund through their participation in the Commonwealth's Unemployment Insurance program through the Division of Unemployment Assistance are eligible to apply for a WTF grant.

Additional Information: Grant recipients must be up to date with their payments to Unemployment Insurance and must provide a certified copy of a certificate in good standing from the Department of Revenue prior to the receipt grant funds.