Workforce Grant Opportunities
The Alabama Department of Commerce administers a variety of programs and grants to help enhance Alabama's workforce and provide assistance to workers. These initiatives are set in place to improve the quality of job training and marketability of Alabama's workforce for the economic growth of the State.
APPLICANT: Company
OBJECTIVE: To train and provide skills upgrades to existing full-time, permanent employees.
REQUIREMENTS/PROCESS: Funding priority is given to industry sector businesses experiencing significant training shortages where training or retraining workers is necessary to respond to a shortage of skilled labor to meet labor demands; businesses that represent significant layoff avoidance strategy and/or upgrade of employees' skills; Consortia of business uniting training activities to reduce training cost and company downtime. Empoyees to be trained must be full-time, permanent company employees who have been employed at the company for a minmum of six (6) months.
MAXIMUM FUNDING: $30,000 per project; $60,000 lifetime maximum benefit.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: $1 for $1 match; Can be in-kind (employee wages and benefits, materials, etc.) Company must be for profit; current on all state tax obligations; have been in operation for at least two years; demonstrate anticipated outcomes on business operations and identify transferrable skills acquired by employee; and present a training program which provides new or upgraded skills that are vital to company while also providing job security for the workers.
POINT OF CONTACT: Please contact our office at (256) 215-4411 for additional information and resources.
APPLICANT: Company
OBJECTIVE: To train and provide skills upgrades to existing full-time, permanent employees.
REQUIREMENTS/PROCESS: College or ATN submits to RWC for approval and ranking, then submits to Alabama Community College System (ACCS); ACCS submits to Workforce Development Division (WDD) of Commerce (Lieaisons) who score and submit recommendations to ACCS; ACCS provids final approval. Approximately 30 day approval process once submitted to ACCS from Community College.
MAXIMUM FUNDING: $15,000 per Company per Project; Alliances of multiple companies can qualify for more per training project. $60,000 10 year maximum benefit.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: $1 for $1 match; Can be in-kind (employee wages and benefits, facilities, and materials).
POINT OF CONTACT: Please contact our office at (256) 215-4411 for additional information and resources. APPLICANT: Employee/Applicant completes Page 1 of IRS Form 8850, Employer completes Page 2 of IRS Form 8850. ETA Form 9061 may be completed by either employee or employer.
OBJECTIVE: A federal tax cradit available to companies that hire individuals from eligible target groups with significant barriers to employment.
REQUIREMENTS/PROCESS: Completed IRS from 8850 & ETA Form 9061 MUST be submitted within 28 calendars days of the employee's start date to Alabama Department of labor WOTC. The application can be mailed to Alabama Department of Labor, WOTC, 649 Monroe Street, Montgomery, AL 36131 or submitted on-line on Alabama WOTC's secure database. If the application is certified, the company is notified and may file for the tax credit with the IRS. Employees must work at least 120 hours in the first year of employment to receive the tax credits.
MAXIMUM FUNDING: Employers can earn a tax credit of between $2,400 and $9,600 per employee, depending on the target group of the new employee and the number of hours worked in the first year.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Eligible individuals include Veterans; TANF recipients; Food Stamp recipients; Designated Community Residents; Vocational Rehabilitation referral; Ex-Felons; Supplemental Security Income recipients and Long Term Unemployment Recipients.
POINT OF CONTACT: Please contact our office at (256) 215-4411 for additional information and resources. APPLICANT: Employer negotiated through the Alabama Career Center Business Services Representative.
OBJECTIVE: To provide reimbursement to employers for the costs assiciated with the hiring and training of WIOA eligible individuals.
REQUIREMENTS/PROCESS: Employer makes the hiring decision; tailors the training; negoiates length of training; provides full-time employment to trainee and enters Training Contract through Local Career Center..
MAXIMUM FUNDING: Employer may receive 50-75% of trainee wages reimbursed through monthly invoices and upon completion of training.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Trainee must meet WIOA eligibility requirements. Employer must provide trainee with same wage/benefits as other employees holding similar position and Training Agreement must be written before trainee can be hired.
POINT OF CONTACT: Please contact our office at (256) 215-4411 for additional information and resources.
Incumbent Worker Training Grant (IWTP)
Existing Industry Training Program (EITP)
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
On the Job Training (OJT)
