Incumbent Worker Training

Note: Please be advised that all legislatively appropriated and allocated funds for the Incumbent Worker Training Program have been awarded for this fiscal year. Therefore, we will not be able to approve any new or pending applications at this time.

The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides grant funding for customized training for existing for profit businesses. Through this customer-driven program, Florida is able to effectively retain and keep businesses competitive through upgrade skills training for existing full-time employees. Workforce Florida, Inc. administers the program.

Established in 1999, the Incumbent Worker Training Program has provided customized training for over 50,000 employees for more than 500 businesses throughout the state. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the business’s training objectives. The business may use public, private, or its own in-house training provider based on the nature of the training.

Note: If you experience an issue when downloading the application, please contact Dianne Goodman at (850) 921-1119 to request it be e-mailed to you.

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;
  
• businesses located in a distressed Rural Area, Urban Inner-City Area or Enterprise Zone;
  
• businesses in qualified targeted industries (pdf);
  
• businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy;
  
• businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant upgrade in employee skills
  

REIMBURSABLE TRAINING EXPENSES

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

CONTACT Information

Catherine Kennedy
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program
Workforce Florida, Inc.
1580 Waldo Palmer Lane, Suite 1
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
ckennedy@workforceflorida.com
Phone (850) 921-1119
Fax (850) 921-1101
TTY (via the Florida Relay Service): 711
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers on this web site may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.