USCOG Workforce Division Accepting Incumbent Worker Training Grant Applications
The Upper Savannah Council of Governments Workforce Development Division is now accepting applications for Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants which help provide training needed in current businesses due to expansion, new technology, retooling, new services/product lines and new organizational structuring, or as part of a layoff aversion strategy.
IWT may also fund training in new businesses if those jobs are ineligible for assistance through ReadySC. However, there will be a 120-day waiting period for new or expanding businesses that displaced workers elsewhere in the United States.
A total of $54,000 is available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for businesses in the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda. Businesses applying for funding must have at least one full-time employee (on the payroll a minimum of six months) and be current on all state tax obligations. Training entities, city, county and state governments are ineligible to apply.
The Upper Savannah Workforce Board will use the funds to help workers earn a credential or receive training that will yield a promotion and/or higher wages. This will benefit the employer by helping them with hard to fill positions. The promotion will create a lower-level vacancy that Upper Savannah can help backfill.
The Board will set the minimum request at $5,000 and the maximum at $20,000 per business and give priority to manufacturing, healthcare and trades (electricians, carpenters, plumbers, etc.) occupations.
Business must provide a matching contribution to the training project that shall not be less than:
10% of the cost, for employers with 49 employees or less;
25% of the cost, for employers with between 50 -100 employees; and
50% of the cost, for employers with more than 100 employees.
USCOG will contract with the selected business to write an agreement for the training. Costs will be reimbursed after the business provides the training services specified in the contract and completes all required paperwork. Reimbursable training expenses include instructor/trainer salaries, textbooks/manuals, and consumable materials/supplies. Routine or periodic safety and/or refresher courses cannot be funded. The salaries of in-house instructors are not reimbursable. The grant cannot pay for travel for the trainer or trainees or trainee wages.
All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of members of the Upper Savannah SC Works Business Services Team and the Workforce Development Board.
The application deadline is Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 5 p.m. Applications submitted after this date will be held for consideration in the future, if funding becomes available. Applications should be submitted to work@uppersavannah.com, fax to 864.941.8090 or mailed to:
Upper Savannah Workforce Development Division
Attn: Billy Morgan
430 Helix Road
Greenwood, SC 29646
IWT Grant ends on June 30, 2022. Grant funds will be obligated by July 31, 2021.
To request a copy of the application, contact Upper Savannah workforce staff at (864) 941-8050 or bmorgan@uppersavannah.com. The application and additional information can be found on the Upper Savannah SC Works website at: https://upperscworks.com/employers/
