WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FUND PROGRAM
Pre-Hire Economic Development Grants
The Department of Workforce Services recognizes the importance of an educated, skilled workforce in promoting Wyoming's economic growth. To foster this growth, it is the intent of the Department of Workforce Services to assist employers through the use of the Pre-Hire Economic Development Grant Program.
The Pre-Hire Economic Development Grant Program is designed to train skilled workers in a particular business, businesses, or industry. Applications are completed through a partnering of four entities that contribute separate needs or services to the program:
- A training entity that can deliver the training, certificate, or skills the business requires;
- A business, group of businesses, or an industry with a need for workers;
- The local or regional economic development entity, that will work within the local or regional economic network to provide assistance; and
- The local Workforce Center, which will assist in the recruitment of potential skilled workers, along with placement of trained participants.
Please call the Laurie Timm at 307-777-8650.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The application must be submitted on the official application form.
- The application must be uploaded to the Pre-Hire File Upload page.
- In order to receive disbursements (payments) from the state of Wyoming, the training entity must have a WOLFS-109 form on file with the Wyoming State Auditor's office. This form is located right here. The Workforce Development Training Fund strongly encourages all training entities to select the Electronic Funds Transfer option on the WOLFS-109 form.
Wyoming based training entities are eligible to apply, including industry associations, trade unions, private training entities, community colleges and the University of Wyoming.
Pre-Hire Economic Development Grant applications must be completed by a partnership among four entities:
- The training entity;
- The business, businesses, or industry in need of trained workers;
- The local economic development entity;
- The local Workforce Center.
After submission of the completed application, the application will be closely screened to ensure compliance with the requirements listed in the application instructions and Rules. Applications meeting the requirements will be forwarded to a subcommittee of the Wyoming Workforce Development Council. The subcommittee will in turn forward a recommendation to the Director of the Department of Workforce Services, who will make the final decision as to whether or not the grant will be awarded.
- Questions concerning this program may be directed to Laurie Timm at 307-777-8616.
- Assistance is also available free of charge through local representatives of the following organizations/entities:
- The Department of Workforce Services Workforce Centers;
- Economic Development Entities;
- Wyoming Business Council;
- Wyoming Community Colleges;
- Chambers of Commerce; and
- Small Business Development Centers.
If required, the training entity and the business(es) must be in good standing with the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance program, the Wyoming Workers' Compensation program, the Workforce Development Training Fund, and registered and in good standing with the Wyoming Secretary of State's office.
- Reside in Wyoming or have a letter of commitment to interview upon completion of training from a Wyoming business at the start of training.
- Meet the eligibility requirements of the business, businesses, or industry, and the training program screening and selection plan.
- Training that provides trained workers for a new or expanding business, group of businesses or industry in Wyoming.
- Training that provides trainees, upon completion, with a license, certificate, and/or skills required for employment or skills to receive an increase in wages.
- Training that operates in conjunction with the local or regional economic development needs.
- Training that demonstrates a net increase in the number of trained workers, based on the business, group of business, or industry need.
- Training that assures that there is a probability of success for trainees to earn the projected wage for the occupation in the county or state, if the training is a statewide program.
- Training that trains no more than the greater of ten percent (10%) or two (2) more trainees than the number of workers required by the business, businesses, or industry.
- Direct training costs to include tuition, registration, class fees and class materials directly related to the training.
- Travel expenses to include transportation, lodging, and meals directly related to the training.
- Instructor wages and fringe benefits.
- Fees for licenses and certifications that may be obtained during the training.
- Administration not to exceed five percent (5%) of the direct training costs.
- Human resource screening services based on the business, businesses, or industry needs.
- Drug and aptitude screening services based on the business, businesses, or industry basic qualifications.
- Curriculum development if one does not exist that fits the needs of the business, businesses, or industry.
- Costs associated with the recruitment and marketing of the training program.
Purchased, rented, or leased equipment.
If the grant is approved and funds are available, the Department of Workforce Services will enter into a contract with the approved training entity. Grant funds will be paid directly to the training entity on a cost reimbursement basis with the training entity billing the Workforce Development Training Fund once per month. The standard invoice may be found
right here.
The training entity must submit Monthly Trainee Reports to the Workforce Development Training Fund on
this form.
At the conclusion of training, the training entity shall submit a detailed report on the outcomes of training.
Eighty percent (80%) of the trainees who complete the training must enter employment in Wyoming within ninety (90) days after completion of the training program within the industry in which they were trained.
