Business Training Grants for New Positions can provide between $1,000 and a maximum of $4,000 per trainee per fiscal year, depending on the employee's full-time status and wage amount. Grants for New Positions were developed to assist Wyoming businesses in two ways:
Wyoming Business Expansion
One of the most prohibitive issues facing a company trying to expand their services and workforce is the overwhelming cost associated with hiring and training a workforce during the start-up phase of the expansion.
The Workforce Development Training Fund can help a growing Wyoming business by deferring much of the business's training costs during the expansion phase.
New Business Recruitment
The Workforce Development Training Fund is a tool for the Department of Workforce Services to partner with Wyoming's economic development entities in recruitment of new businesses to our state. During the site selection phase of the business recruitment process, all of the benefits of choosing Wyoming over another state become crucial.
The Department of Workforce Services works with our economic development partners to ensure that a business considering Wyoming as a place of operation will know how the training fund can help create a successful start-up by deferring much of the business's training costs.
The application form document may also be used to submit an application. It must be printed and mailed or hand-delivered to the address on the application.
Applications must request funding for only one training event per application, but the event may include multiple training dates.
There is no limit to the number of applications a business may submit.
Applications will only be accepted:
Up to 110 days before the scheduled training date; and
No less than 30 days before the scheduled training date. (To assist with the calculation for this requirement, please use the date calculator below.)
A proposed curriculum for the training and copies of any brochures, information, etc. describing the training must be included with the application.
In order to receive disbursements (payments) from the State of Wyoming, the business must be established as a vendor with the State Auditor's Office (SAO). If not already enrolled, please submit a Wyoming On-Line Financial System (WOLFS) Form 109. The Workforce Development Training Fund strongly recommends that all businesses elect the EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) option on the WOLFS-109.
Date Calculator
Use the calculator below to determine when you must submit your application.
Enter training start date: Note: Your browser must have Javascript turned on to use this calculator.
For each state fiscal year, a trainee may only receive the following:
$1,000 per trainee working less than 35 hours per week.
$2,000 per trainee working 35 or more hours per week.
$4,000 per trainee whose wages are equal to or greater than the mean hourly wage by county, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current mean wages may be found at http://doe.state.wy.us/lmi. Scroll the page for "Earnings and Wages", then "Wyoming Wages by Occupation". Choose the county where the business is located; then choose "Total all occupations," and use the "Mean Wage" category to determine if the trainee is eligible for funding at the $4,000 level.
Applications must include a signed certifying statement from the business that the position was created within the past 180 days prior to the application's postmark date, and that the position constitutes a net increase in positions for the business.
Applications will only be accepted for a minimum grant amount of $300.
Applications or combinations of applications for the same business which total $25,000 or more must have the concurrence of the local or regional Wyoming Business Council representative and the local Economic Development entity to be approved.
No funding will be granted on a retroactive basis.
The application must be approved and a contract must be signed and dated by the business prior to the business training start date.
Trainees must be working in Wyoming at least 50% of the time for the eligible business applying for the training grant.
What kind of training will be approved for a grant?
In order for training to be approved, the business must demonstrate there is a direct relationship between the training and the trainee's occupation or craft.
What expenses will the grant cover?
The following are allowable training expenses:
Trainee's wages;
Tuition, registration, class fees, and class materials;
Travel expenses including transportation, lodging, and meals;
Instructor fees and travel expenses; and
Fees for continuing education units and certifications that may be obtained during the training.
The application must be approved and a contract must be signed and dated by all parties, including the business, prior to the training start date.
The business will initially receive 75% of the total grant award. This initial payment request will be forwarded to the State Auditor's Office for disbursement within 3 business days after the signed and dated contract has been approved by the Department of Workforce Services.
The remaining 25% is retained until the Department of Workforce Services receives and processes the final report, ninety (90) days after the completion of the training.
Businesses applying for a Business Training Grant for the first time must complete the State Auditor's Wyoming On-line Financial System (WOLFS) Taxpayer Identification & Certification (WOLFS-109) form electing payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Businesses must be enrolled in EFT to receive a payment under this program.
The Department of Workforce Services will send a letter to the business 90 days after the training has been completed requesting a final report.
The final report must include:
A summary report of the results of the training program;
A copy of the agenda or registration form for the training;
A payroll record listing the name(s), social security number(s) and hourly wages of the employee(s) trained for a pay period ninety (90) days after the training has been completed;
Invoices or receipts for allowable expenses, including travel and registration; and
Documentation from the trainer stating who was trained.
Adjustment to the final payment will be made if actual expenses were lower than the amount awarded.
The business must repay the entire grant if the final report is not submitted within 135 days after the training is completed.
The amount retained by the Department of Workforce Services will be remitted to the business if the trainee:
Has completed the training; and
Has been retained in employment with the business for ninety (90) days after the date of completion of the training.
When the trainee has not completed the training or is not retained in employment with the business for ninety (90) days after completion of the training:
The amount retained relating to the trainee will not be remitted to the business; and
The business will repay the 75% of the grant award relating to the trainee.
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