Incumbent Worker Training Application
INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING
In an effort to be more responsive to the needs of community employers, the Crater Regional Workforce Investment Board has been given funding and programming flexibility under the Workforce Investment Act to provide educational and skills training for existing workers. These existing workers, known as incumbent workers (IW), are defined as workers who are; currently on the payroll of the applicant employer; 18 years old and above; legally authorized to work in the United States; and have complied with Selective Service provisions.
The Incumbent Worker Training program is structured to meet your business’ training objectives by enhancing the skills of existing employees, resulting in increased employee productivity and potential company growth. Likewise, Incumbent Workers develop portable skills that benefit their employers, facilitate transition between jobs, and enhance their potential for increased earnings. Prospering businesses combined with a highly skilled workforce greatly contribute to a successful and thriving economy.
TYPES OF TRAINING AVAILABLE
Training activities under the Incumbent Worker Training program may include the following:
- Occupational Skills Training designed to meet the special requirements of a business or a group of businesses, and is conducted with employer commitment to continue to employ all participants in the IWTI program upon successfully completing their training. It is a training instruction conducted in an institutional setting or worksite setting designed to provide or upgrade individuals with technical skills and information required to perform a specific job or groups of jobs such as auto mechanics, health services, or clerical training, etc.
- Skill Upgrading and Retraining – training provided to individuals whose skills have been rendered obsolete or outdated by the development of new technologies or processes. Retraining is provided to those individuals whose skills are not transferable and require new skills set to maintain or obtain employment.
- Literacy Activities related to Basic Work Readiness – an activity that provides an employee with basic literacy skills that will enable them to compete for different Virginia employment opportunities. Activities included here would be remedial in nature and may not result in a diploma or equivalency.
- Job Readiness Training or Work Readiness Training – training on the essentials of maintaining a job. May include employee training in the areas of time management, developing good work habits, social skills and employer expectations.
- On-the-Job Training – training by an employer that is provided to a paid participant while engaged in productive work in a job that:
- Provides knowledge or skills assessment to the full and adequate performance of the job;
- Provides reimbursement to the employer of up to 50% of the wage of the participant, for extraordinary costs of providing the training and additional supervision related to the training, and;
- Is limited to the period of time required for a participant to become proficient in the occupation for which the training is being provided. In determining the appropriate length of the contract, consideration must be given to the skills requirements of the occupation, the academic and occupational skill level of the participant, prior work experiences, and the participant’s individual service plan.
- Customized Training – training that is designed to meet the special requirements of an employer (including a group of employers).
Training services may be provided through Virginia’s community colleges, school districts, area vocational-technical centers, state universities, licensed and certified post secondary private institutions and from subject matter experts, consultants, or trainers from the applying business. Employers are encouraged to use the State approved Eligible Training Providers List, Workforce Access Program and Fund Providers List or outside private trainers to identify potential training providers. Training can be conducted at the business’ own facility, at the training provider’s facility or at a combination of sites.
TO APPLY FOR TRAINING
Businesses must submit the Incumbent Worker Training Employer application. The application ensures proper determination of employer and IW training eligibility. Requested information includes:
- Documentation that the employer has assessed the prospective incumbent worker(s) and has determined a need for education/tr:aining/retraining to meet the documented business skill needs of the employer.
- Type of training to be provided, training provider, and projected training period.
- Documentation of employer intent to continue to employ all incumbent workers upon their successful completion of specified training.
- Training cost, including documentation of a minimum 50/50 employer matching contribution. This may include the dollar value of employer in-kind contributions.
- In-kind contributions are defined as “The value of third party in-kind contributions applicable to the period to which the cost sharing or matching requirements applies”, such as third party donations of goods, services, or volunteer time. An example of an in-kind contribution is; an employer wishes to use a van donated to them, to provide incumbent worker transportation to a training facility as a source to fund the matching cost requirement.
- The cost matching must comply with the “Qualifications and exceptions” regulations.
- Proposed training costs must be reasonable and necessary and clearly relate to the purposes and activities of the project as described.
- IWTI program funds are not intended to supplant training normally provided by employers.
The 2007 training application will be posted online as soon as it becomes available. Please contact us for any additional information regarding this innovative training opportunity.