Workforce Florida

Employer Incentives

Workforce Florida works in more ways than one. Businesses not only gain access to qualified job candidates, they also may qualify for special hiring and training incentives.

Several tax and cash incentives are available to companies that hire from select labor pools, including former welfare recipients. Additionally, employees hired through one-stop career centers also may be eligible for subsidized childcare, transportation and education-services that benefit businesses because they help ensure that entry-level workers can focus on their jobs.

Workforce Florida offers special assistance to new and existing businesses creating quality jobs in growth business sectors or retraining workers to meet the changing demands of technology. Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development agency, also offers incentives for companies considering relocation to Florida. For more information, visit their web site at www.eflorida.com.

Workforce incentives and links to applications are provided below.

Training Incentives:

Quick Response Training

New and expanding businesses that produce exportable goods or services and are creating full-time, high-quality jobs may be eligible for Florida’s Quick Response Training Program, which has funded customized entry-level training for over 65,000 employees in more than 270 businesses across the state. The performance-based incentive requires that businesses create new jobs and hire and train the new employee before any training costs are reimbursed. Special attention is given to businesses in rural communities, enterprise zones and other distressed areas. And, as its name implies, quick response is responsive- applications can be approved within three to five days. Click here for more information and an application.

Incumbent Worker Training

Businesses also can benefit from Florida’s Incumbent Worker Training Program, which helps employers fund training for individuals they already employ to keep their firms and workers competitive. Small businesses and companies in rural or distressed urban areas are a key target. Created in 1999, the program elicited over $3 million in requests from 62 applicants during its first eight months. Nearly $1 million for 46 projects were approved, including 21 small businesses with less than 25 employees. The Legislature increased funding to $2 million for FY 00-01. Click here for more information and an application.

Incentives for Special Groups:

Work Opportunity Tax Credit

This incentive, available to employers hiring welfare recipients and individuals from other groups including food stamp recipients as well as some veterans, vocational rehabilitation clients and people receiving Supplemental Security Income, can earn up to $2,400 per employee in federal income taxes. Employers receive up to 40 percent of qualified wages for a maximum credit of $2,400 per employee for employees working more than 400 hours. For individuals who work between 120 and 400 hours, employers are eligible for tax credits of up to 25 percent. Employers should complete a pre-screening notice before hiring a qualified applicant and must complete ETA form 9061 if the employee has been conditionally certified by the state. Additionally, a one-page form (such as payroll stubs or other proof of employment) must be filed to document the employee's eligibility. All forms must be filed within 21 days of employee's start date. For additional information and fax-on-demand forms, click here.

On-The-Job Training (OJT)

Employers can recoup up to half of wages paid to workers pre-approved by one-stop career centers or other workforce providers through on-the-job training for employment usually not available elsewhere. Employers earn workers they have trained to their own specifications and employees are very likely to remain after training is complete. OJT is particularly encouraged in higher-skill occupations, and can be done in conjunction with classroom training at educational institutions. Reimbursements are limited to six months and may not exceed the time required to acquire the skill needed for the position. For more information, please contact the regional workforce board nearest you.

Work Supplementation

Work supplementation or grant diversion allows cash assistance benefits to be paid to an employer for a specified period of time as an incentive to hire the individual into their regular workforce. Employment must be full-time at a rate at least equal to the federal minimum wage and should lead to long-term unsubsidized work. For more information, please contact the regional workforce board nearest you.

Enterprise Zone Incentives

Business located in an Enterprise Zone may be eligible for various tax credits if they hire new employees from groups including welfare recipients and graduates of Workforce Investment Act classroom training programs. Businesses can claim a percentage of the employee's wages against either their corporate income tax or to offset property or sales tax on building materials and business equipment. For additional information, click here or the national program at www.ezec.gov.