Training

Incumbent Worker Training Funds

BACKGROUND AND FUNDING CONSIDERATIONS

In April, 2012, the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor H-1B Technical Skills training grant referred to locally as the Metro-Insourcing Training Initiative (MISTI).  The intent of the grant is to enhance the skills of local workers in H-1B visa occupation groups thus strengthening the U.S. workforce and reducing the need to recruit foreign workers to fill these high skilled occupations.  Funds will support individual certification and/or industry credentials in information technology (IT) and advanced manufacturing.  Industry-identified skill upgrade training may be provided through classroom training and/or customized training strategies, either on-site, at local training institutions, or through online or distance learning.  These trainings will be short-term certificate programs in most cases, but in limited instances may involve longer term degree completion coursework.

SWWDC is managing the coordination and implementation of the MISTI grant and will be awarding funds in a competitive solicitation process beginning April, 2013.  The total funding amount is $400,000, and funding requests should not exceed $30,000.   Funds will be awarded to businesses in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties through this application process.

Applications are limited to businesses in the Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing industries and the training proposed must be targeted for employees in the H-1B visa occupation groups listed below.   Advanced manufacturing is defined as the use of high technology tools, including engineering and computing, for the purpose of producing a finished product or part, or for enhancing manufacturing capabilities.  For the purpose of this application solicitation, the manufacturing of wood, paper and food products are excluded.

Please contact Mary Brown at mbrown@swwdc.org or 360-567-3170 if you have any questions on eligibility or the grant funds in general.

Top H-1B Visa Occupations for IT and Advanced Manufacturing

(based on 2010 H-1B visa petitions)

Funding Considerations:

• Funds must be used to train incumbent workers (current employees).
• Proposals representing a consortium of companies are allowable, however, all companies named in the proposal must operate within the target industries.
• Funds must be used solely to train workers in H-1B visa occupation groups (listed below).
• Companies are not required to currently employ H-1B visa workers. 
• Matching funds of no less than 85% of the total grant amount are required.  Matching funds may include:
• the wage costs of trainees while they are in training;
• the wage costs of staff time associated with planning, coordination, and evaluation of training;
• other costs directly related to the training program such as material and equipment costs, space usage, and tuition costs not supported by grant funds.

Example:  If a company receives an award of $20,000 they must contribute and report $17,000 in matching funds to the project during their contract period.

• Grant guidelines require certain information to be reported within a data management system called I-Track.  SWWDC will assist project sponsors with access to the registration process and provide technical assistance throughout the course of the grant.  Employees receiving training will be required to provide a minimum level of personal information in order to participate. 

• Training outcomes for each worker trained with grant funds (i.e., start date, end date, training type, credential received, etc.)
• Employment retention information for each training participant for 2 quarters following the completion of grant funded training.

Now more than ever, the value of your business is determined by the skills and abilities of your employees. Our U.S. businesses invest in significantly in talent and training to ensure that they are globally competitive and upgrading the skillsets of existing workforce or incoming workforce is an ongoing critical need.

The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) secures and manages training grants and opportunities for our top local employers, as well as small-and-medium sized businesses. We have facilitated customized on-site training, certification training, online training, and consortium-style classroom training through key partners. If you are not sure what you need, contact your Business Concierge in Cowlitz or Clark County.