Incumbent Worker Training Grants

Prior to submitting 2012/2013 fiscal year applications, please contact the IWT Program Manager, Carmen Mims.

The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants provide funding for training to existing for-profit businesses. Through this grant, Florida is able to effectively retain businesses and help them stay competitive by supporting skills-upgrade training for existing full-time employees.

IWT grants are structured to be flexible to meet the business’s training objectives. The business may use a public or private training provider, or may use an in-house training provider based on the nature of the training. From July 2011 through June 2012, Workforce Florida awarded 230 IWT grants totaling more than $6.1 million to help companies train and retain more than 12,000 full-time employees. Trainees’ wages have increased more than 25 percent on average within a year of completing IWT-supported training.

Program Requirements:
Existing Florida businesses applying for an IWT grant must:

  • Have been in operation in Florida for at least one year prior to application date
  • Have at least one full-time employee
  • Demonstrate financial viability be current on all state tax obligations

Funding priority given to businesses:

  • With 25 or fewer employees
  • Located in a distressed Rural Area, Urban Inner-City Area or Enterprise Zone
  • In qualified targeted industries (pdf, 9K)
  • Whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy
  • Whose grant proposals represent a significant upgrade in employee skills

Reimbursable training expenses:

  • Instructors’/trainers’ salaries/tuition
  • Curriculum development
  • Textbooks/manuals
 
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