Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board Incumbent Worker Training Fund (IWT)

The Incumbent Worker Training Fund offers training support to businesses in Kent County with a plan or an interest in training their current working individuals. The applicants must not be contractual employees.

All trainings must result in a credential that confirms completion.

Expected outcomes must include at least one of the following:

• Improving alignment of existing workers’ skills with evolving job requirements
• Providing participants with access to new career opportunities within a business or industry
• Encouraging worker retention through the promotion of up-to-date skills training
• Increasing wages of incumbent participants
• Creating new opportunities for entry-level workers by providing opportunities for promotion of existing workforce
• Supporting and enhancing local and regional economic environment

Training Support is defined as expense for reimbursements for:

1. Occupational classroom training and up-skilled certifications in a defined career pathway
2. Work and learn strategies such as:
   1. Cross-training work assignments within the company
   2. In-house proprietary training using current employee trainers
   3. In-house proprietary training from outside vendors
   4. Outside training vendors performing training at locations outside the business

These may be combined to provide a specific learning goal that relates directly to the qualifications for a promoted job title and/or a defined career pathway within the company.

Training expenses will be a maximum of $5,000 per company, with a targeted training rate of $1,500 per individual, though the targeted rate per individual is negotiable.

IWT Overview Printable Handout

All questions and/or program interest should be directed to Bob Zimberoff, Business Services Coordinator at  rzimberoff@chesapeake.edu

Kent County Economic and Tourism Development in partnership with the Upper Shore Regional Council provides grant funding to local agricultural businesses looking to expand, diversify, or improve their marketing efforts or conduct agricultural research initiatives. The purpose of the program is to help support the development, expansion, and coordination of agricultural enterprises and initiatives within Kent County and the tri-county region.

Grant requests ranging from $2,500 up to a maximum of $10,000 will be considered on a competitive basis.

Priority will be given to projects that:

1. Benefit the entire Ag community,
2. Include two or more businesses working in cooperation,
3. Involve new or emerging markets,
4. Promote a Buy Local campaign.

More Details

Application

Reimbursement Request

Final Reporting Form

W-9

New Vendor Form

Find out how to leverage your grant and investment further with MARBIDCO's

Local Government Agriculture & Resource-Based Industry Project Cost Share Program

Responding to repeated requests of Maryland’s businesses in consultation with the Maryland Department of Commerce, is excited to announce the return of Maryland Business Works, a highly successful incumbent worker training program.

With a substantial initial investment of $500,000 in business engagement funds, the Maryland Department of Labor is eager to partner with Maryland’s businesses to support employer strategies for retention, growth and, expansion. This project requires a dollar-for-dollar match by the employer, which allows for an overall investment of $1 million in incumbent worker training.

Training funds can be used to upgrade the skills of current employees while also creating opportunities for new hires in in-demand occupations and skills. Participants completing the program will gain transferable skills or industry-recognized certifications or credentials, leading to potential career growth and increased wages. Projects will be industry-focused and employer-based, targeting small business, particularly at the local level.

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/employment/mbw.shtml

PWQ provides matching training grants and support services targeted to improve the competitive position of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies. Grants are used to increase the skills of existing workers for new technologies and production processes, improve employee productivity and increase employment stability.

Matching grant funds are used to reimburse up to 50% of the costs of qualified projects.

http://commerce.maryland.gov/grow/partnership-for-workforce-quality-pwq

The SBA works with different organizations to provide grants for small businesses. Find out if you meet the requirements to apply.  Grants available for research and development, exporting, and other uses.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/grants

MARBIDCO works with agricultural and resource-based businesses such as forestry, seafood, and on-farm processors. In providing these grants, our goal is to help business owners innovate, diversify and exploit emerging market opportunities in food and fiber production and rural tourism.

Examples of innovative business activities and enterprises include, but are not limited to:

• On-farm and value-added food processing
• Smaller scale secondary wood products manufacturing

Business-related technology enhancements (especially those related to energy efficiency)

http://www.marbidco.org/_pages/programs_grants/grant_programs.htm

Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Learn more at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency