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Deval L. Patrick, Governor,

Joanne F. Goldstein, Secretary Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

Alice Sweeney, Director, Department of Career Services

WORKFORCE TRAINING FUND PROGRAM (WTFP)

INFORMATION SESSIONMichael Corcoran

Workforce Training Fund Program

Rev. 05-24-13

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1. WTFP Mission, Priorities, and Statute

2. WTFP Compliance Requirements

3. Overview of Workforce Training Fund Programs

a) Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG)b) Express Programc) General Program

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To provide business and labor organizations funds for training initiatives

To upgrade the skills of Massachusetts workers To fund projects that:

◦ Promote job growth, job retention, or increased wages◦ Improve productivity, competitiveness, and ability to do

business in Massachusetts◦ Include employers who have made a commitment to

provide significant private investment in training during and after the grant

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Enacted by Massachusetts State Legislature in 1998 (MGL Chapter 29 Section 2RR)

First grants awarded April 1999 Funded by employer contributions - $8.40 per

employee per year collected with quarterly UI payments

Contributions are collected into a Trust Approximately $18M - $21M in collections each year Workers must be paid while in training

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Massachusetts companies are eligible as well as companies moving to Massachusetts

Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing required

Gubernatorially-appointed 9-member Advisory Board

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All companies must pay quarterly into Workforce Training Fund. Self insured companies are not eligible.

All trainees must be employed in Massachusetts All companies must be current with:

◦ Unemployment Insurance◦ Unemployment Health Insurance◦ Fair Share◦ Current Workers Compensation Coverage◦ Certificate of Good Standing

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All companies must have a current Massachusetts Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing (CoGS) issued within 6 months of application.

Applications are considered complete when a current and valid CoGS has been submitted (along with other application materials). Not having a current a CoGS will cause delays in the review and approval of your Workforce Training Fund application.

The CoGS must be issued from the Department of Revenue, NOT the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

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Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG)◦ Hiring and training unemployed Mass residents and Mass veterans

◦ Maximum award $75,000 ($5000 per hire)◦ For companies of any size

Express Program Grant◦ Pre-approved, off-the-shelf training

◦ maximum award $30,000◦ For small companies of100 employees or fewer

General Program Grants◦ Training Grant and Consortium Grant

Customized Training Maximum award $250,000

Companies of any size

◦ Technical Assistance Grant Training needs assessments and training plan development

maximum award $25,000

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Program to encourage hiring Massachusetts residents who have been dislocated from the workforce

$5,000 grant award per eligible employee; payment after 120 days from date of hire (payroll documentation required)

Maximum award of $75,000 per calendar year ◦ Grantee may submit additional HITG applications for

eligible new hires throughout 12-month contract period The grant does not pay for mandated federal, state, or

municipal training or worker orientation Can use external training or in-house trainer

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Hired Employee must be a Massachusetts resident Eligible Trainees: Full-and Part Time Hires

Employees hired within 30 days of application Unemployed for a minimum of 6 months and has not

earned more than$6000 in gross earning within 6 month's prior to hire/ has not been employed by hiring company during the last 6 months prior to hire

Veterans (DD214) required / above criteria waived for veterans

Not Eligible: Temporary workers / Seasonal or Contract Workers High School students/Non- Massachusetts residents Company owner(full or Partial) relative of any owner

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Applications must be submitted within 30 days of eligible new hire. Applications consist of:

Online application and Pre-screening Form (must be submitted within 30 days of new hire)

Certificate of Good Standing (can be submitted after 30 days, however, application will not be approved without a current CoGS)

Applications are reviewed and approved within 5 – 10 days◦ Current Certificate of Good Standing and no compliance issues

required for approval 12 month calendar contract

HITG Website: http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/hitg

John Huynh/Commonwealth Corporation(617) 717-6912

jhuynh@commcorp.org

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Program for small companies to quickly and easily access off-the-shelf training◦ Small business = businesses with 100 or fewer employees

Company chooses from a list of pre-approved courses on the WTFP website:◦ http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/express◦ Choose the “Training Provider Information” page, then click “Training Provider

Directory”◦ The Workforce Training Fund Program will not award an Express Program grant if

the employee participating in the course/training program has previously participated in the same or similar course/training program that was funded by the Express Program.

Maximum grant award of $30,000 per company per 24 months ◦ $3,000 per trainee per course limit◦ Businesses may submit additional applications for additional courses throughout 24-month

contract period up to award maximum ◦ Will not fund the same employee to take the same course multiple times◦ 12 month maximum training per course

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Must submit completed application at least six weeks before anticipated start date of training. Applications consist of:

Online application Applications are reviewed and approved approximately

10 days after submission. Application approval is contingent upon:◦ Submission of current and valid Certificate of Good Standing ◦ Applicant passes internal compliance check (DUA, DIA)

After course is completed and paid, company/grantee is reimbursed 50% of training cost /maximum of$3000

Express Program website: http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/express

Kara O’Donnell-Galvin 617 717 6919kogalvin@commcorp.org

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Training Grants◦ For companies of any size to implement a customized training

program for incumbent workers◦ $250,000 maximum grant / Requires a 1:1 match for every

dollar requested company must have an in kind contribution◦ exception ESOL (English as a Second Language)allows 50/50

match◦ 2-year maximum training period◦ Companies may use training provider(s) of choice◦ Rolling Application Process

Applicants are notified of application within 90 days of application submission

◦ Application documents found online◦ Waiting Time between General Program Grant is 1 year

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Training Grant Application Materials◦ General Program Training Grant Application (pdf)

◦ Consortium Partner Supplemental Form

◦ Training Module Details and Budget Narrative (Excel)◦ Return on Investment (ROI) Statement◦ Financial Statements◦ Certificate of Good Standing◦ Union letter of support (for unionized companies)

General Program Application Workshop◦ 3 hour comprehensive review of the General Program

Application for companies ready to apply for or are working on an application for submission

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Consortium Grants◦Training involving multiple businesses with

similar training needs◦$250,000 maximum◦Two-year training duration

Technical Assistance Grants◦Assessment of workers skills deficiencies and

development of skills-based training plan◦$25,000 maximum◦12 month maximum grant

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Workforce Training Fund Program Administration

Commonwealth Corporation ◦ a quasi-public state agency, reviews,

administers and provides fiscal oversight to The Workforce Training Fund Program for all grants.

General Program website:http://www.mass.gov/wtfp/general

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Website: www.mass.gov/wtfpPhone: (800) 252-1591

Robert Duncan, Sr. Program Manager, Commonwealth Corporation

Tel: (617) 717-6927Email: rduncan@commcorp.orgGeneral Program Information

Michael Corcoran, Outreach Coordinator DCS Tel: (617) 626-6426Cell: (857)753-3494

Email: mcorcoran@detma.org