Incumbent Worker Training Grant

Incumbent Worker Training Grant initiatives help Florida businesses at the regional/state level. Your region in Florida will potentially affect your funding allocation, when funds are released and processing of the grant documentation. The Incumbent Worker Training initiative is made possible by the Worker Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Act of 2014. All in all, IWT initiative helps Florida businesses grow formal/informal training programs for their employees at an off-set cost.

Benefits to Your Business – Incumbent Worker Training Initiatives

  • Upwards of $200,000 in funding for your training needs
  • Obtain access to a network of resources for grant services and subject matter experts
  • Build a training program at a lower cost that benefits your current employees
  • Increase retention by investing in training resources

Learning Alliance provides grant services in partnership with CareerSource Florida. We act as a middleman between you and your Incumbent Worker Training grant funding by eliminating barriers that prevent many businesses from seeking this type of reimbursement. Do you have a grant writer on staff? Can you pay to contract one? No problem, we have you covered! There are many obstacles that exist when it comes to obtaining grant funding that Learning Alliance helps alleviate:

  • Grant writing services at no extra cost through our specialized federal grant writer
  • Grants require a compliance component that we provide
  • We obtain the resources for your training initiatives – do you need subject matter experts? We got you covered!
  • Guidance – we guide you through the paperwork, compliance and overall process – we make it very easy to gain a grant award

IWT Pertinent Information

  • Incumbent Worker Training grant specifically targets industries are under the legislation, so check to verify your industry is on the list
  • 2019/2020 total funding for the grant is $4 million in total
  • Applications are done on a first come, first serve basis
  • A maximum amount per company is $200,000
  • If you have multiple locations operating under different EINs, each EIN can obtain a grant award of a maximum of $200,000

Targeted Industries for Incumbent Worker Training Funds

This information is provided by Enterprise Florida and may change and be updated on a yearly basis.

Incumbent Worker Training Grant Targeted Industries

Grant Eligibility Information

Eligible Companies

Companies applying for an IWT grant must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a “for-profit” company in the State of Florida
  • In operation for a minimum of one (1) year prior to the application date (as verified on sunbiz.org)
  • Provide a description of how the training is related to the competitiveness of both the business and the employee receiving training.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to retain or avert the layoff of employees receiving training.
  • Demonstrate financial viability by providing:
    • Their most recently filed IRS Form 941 (if the business is a Corporation) or a most recently filed copy of the 1040 Income Tax Return with Schedule SE (if the business is a Sole Proprietorship).
    • A letter of Tax Clearance from the Florida Department of Revenue dated within 45 days of application submittal.
    • A letter from your bank on bank letterhead verifying your company has done business for at least the last six (6) months and is in good standing will be required or a credit check will be completed.
    • W-9 form
    • Compliant with the non-discrimination and equal opportunity provisions of Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and with 29 C.F.R. Part 37.
    • Have at least one full-time employee (must be Florida Resident AND W-2 employee). For a sole proprietor where the business owner is the only employee, the sole proprietor may be considered as the full-time employee.
    • Have not received an award in the previous or current program year.

Ineligible Companies

The following businesses are not eligible to apply for Incumbent Worker Training Funds:

  • Not-for-profit agencies or organizations
  • Retail establishments
  • Entities whose administrations are comprised only of volunteers
  • Workforce Development Boards and their administrative entities
  • Labor unions
  • Federal, state, county, or city governmental entities
  • Businesses that received an IWT award in the current or previous program year

Eligible Funding Requests

One of the great features of the IWT Program is that it provides flexibility regarding the type(s) of training and the training provider(s). Based upon the needs of the company and their overall workforce development needs, the company chooses its own training and training provider. More specifically, the training can be:

  • provided by a Florida’s public or private educational institution, a private training company or private instructor*, a company employee, or a combination of training providers
  • at the company’s facility, at the training provider’s facility, or a combination of locations
  • occupational skills training designed to meet the special requirements of a business or Industry professional development (i.e., leadership training)
  • training in strategies to improve efficiency of business operations
  • technical/hard skills training such as computer software training
  • delivered in person or online

With proper documentation, the following direct training costs/expenses are
reimbursable through the IWT grant:

  • Tuition/training/course cost and/or instructors’ wages capped at:
    • $35/hour for company employees delivering the training,
    • $200/instructor hour for vendor training
  • Curriculum development: No more than 25 percent of the entire grant will be
    allowed for curriculum development. Most of the grant amount will be dedicated to the actual training (limited to two hours for every one hour of training)
  • Textbooks/manuals: capped at $100/textbook and/or manual (limited to course content only – no certification or exam preparation materials,)
  • Other costs: (limited to copies or slides at $.03 per copy, training DVD’s or tapes)

Ineligible Funding Requests

These training items are not eligible for reimbursement under the IWT Grant program:

  • CPR and first aid
  • New hire orientation
  • Diversity and sexual harassment
  • English as a second language
  • Degree programs
  • Workplace literacy or soft skills
  • Training that takes places where food and/or beverages are included
  • Training that includes the purchase of equipment (such as iPads or other
    equipment/supplies/devices that can be used outside of training) in the cost of the training
  • Employee/trainee wages and fringe benefits
  • Compensation or consultant fees
  • Capital improvements
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Membership fees/dues
  • Conferences
  • Test/exam Fees
  • Company web site design and development, web site hosting, and maintenance, software upgrade, advice on computer selection for purchase and upgrade
  • Purchase of employee assessment systems or systems usage licenses
  • Equipment