WORKFORCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS:

Quick Response Training Grants:  The Quick Response Training Program (QRT) provides two year grant funding for customized training for NEW JOBS created by new or expanding businesses that are in specific targeted industry clusters.  Exact dollar amount of the grant is dependent upon the amount of reimbursable training expenses incurred by the business for instructors/trainers salaries, curriculum development and textbooks/manuals creation.  New jobs must meet a minimum average annual wage in order to qualify for the program.

Incumbent Worker Training Grants:  The Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWT) is funded by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and administered by Workforce Florida, Inc. Through this program, Florida is able to provide one year expense reimbursement grants to for-profit businesses for the purpose of providing skills upgrade training to CURRENTLY EMPLOYED full-time workers.  Exact dollar amount of the grant is dependent upon the amount of reimbursable training expenses incurred by the business for instructors/trainers salaries, curriculum development and textbooks/manuals creation.  The program does not limit the kinds of training that will be considered for funding. Training may include industry or company specific skills, technical and computer skills, and "soft-skills" such as leadership, teamwork, and management skills.

FL Advanced Technology Education:  Florida Advanced Technological Education (FL-ATE) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded four year grant program administered by Hillsborough Community College.  The goal is to create manufacturing curriculum and technical programs to meet the future skills set needs of manufacturers in our community.  The program includes outreach activities such as middle school and high school field trips to manufacturing partner plants to expose students to manufacturing jobs as well as creating curriculum for training based upon local manufacturers input.

Career Centers/Workforce Alliance:  The Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance (TBWA) provides access to funded training services focused on successful completion of demand-driven certification and training programs. Training is designed to strengthen or upgrade the professional skills of your workforce. The On-the-Job Training and Competitive Edge Awards are designed to enhance a corporate workforce, making employees and the company more competitive. On-the-job Training and Competitive Edge Awards can significantly reduce training costs and improve employee productivity.

On-the-Job Training is designed to upgrade the skill level of new employees by introducing them into their new working environment under the supervision of a more experienced employee. The trainee is engaged in productive work while acquiring knowledge and skills essential to job performance. Participating employers are reimbursed a percentage of trainee wages, for the cost of the training and for additional supervision related to the training.

Through the Competitive Edge Award, TBWA provides qualified Hillsborough County businesses with funding for training of existing employees. The training must also improve the opportunities for participating employees to retain their jobs and/or to advance within the company.