Department of Labor and Workforce Development
James G. Neeley, Commissioner

• Application for the 2009/2010 Tennessee Incumbent Worker Training Program are open to all Tennessee companies meeting the listed guidelines.
• Notification of approval and fully executed contract in place with the local area prior to start of any training.
• Must be a "for-profit" business and have been in operation in Tennessee for a minimum of one year prior to application date to be eligible for grant funding of up to $50,000.
• “Not-for-profit” organizations that are healthcare related will be eligible for grant funding with a $25,000 cap.
• Must have at least five full-time employees.
• Must demonstrate financial viability and must be current on all state tax obligations when applicable.
• Tennessee Companies that received an IWT grant in program year 2008/2009 whether “for-profit” or healthcare related “not-for profit” may apply for another grant in 2009/2010 program year; however, companies who did not receive a grant in 2008-2009 and apply for 2009-2010 program year grant may have priority.
• Third party contacts are prohibited.
• Applications must be submitted, with a letter of support, by your Local Workforce Investment Area LWIA contact.
• Limited to four training elements.
• Must score at least 100 on the application review.

Should be for the purpose of improving employee earning potential through the upgrade of skills and to assist in keeping businesses competitive to promote growth and avoid layoff.

• Can be provided through Tennessee's public or private educational institutions, private training organizations, trainers employed by the business, or a combination of training providers.
• Can be conducted at the business's own facility, at the training provider's facility, or at a combination of sites.
• For assistance with training provider see link below.
  www.ja.state.tn.us/thec/cbjt/PgSrchEng.jsp

• Instructors'/Trainers' salaries - capped at actual amount or $50/hour, whichever is less
• Curriculum Development, not to exceed 5% of total State obligation (Defined as the time necessary for company officials to determine training needs or the actual development of curriculum)
• Textbooks/manuals
• Materials/Supplies
• Tuition Expense (Tuition defined as being provided by an institution regulated by  the Tennessee Higher Education Commission)

• Trainees' wages
• Purchases of capital equipment
• Purchase of any item or service that may possibly be used outside of the training project
• Travel expenses of trainers or trainees
• On-the-job training costs\
• Assessment, testing, or certification fees
• Language Training unless specific to terms of employment.
• TOSHA provided safety training when available; visit www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/
• Adult basic education
• Advertisement or recruitment.

Other services provided by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development; visit www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/

• Businesses approved for funds enter into a contract with their local workforce investment area (LWIA contact) which commits the business to complete the training project as proposed in their application.
• Approved budget items are reimbursed upon presentation of adequate documentation of the training and evidence that the training expense incurred has been paid.
• Businesses will provide a 50% matching contribution to the training project equal to at least 50% of the requested grant amount. Example would be if the grant is for $50,000 the Company would have to have a $25,000 match.
• Businesses will keep accurate records of the project's implementation process and certify that all information provided for the purpose of requesting reimbursements and reporting training activity is accurate and true.
• Businesses submit monthly or quarterly reimbursement requests with required support documentation, to their local workforce investment area representative. (LWIA contact)
• Any other contract provisions established by the LWIA.

• All Grant projects shall be performance based with specific measurable performance outcomes - including: the completion of the training project, number of employees trained, beginning and ending wages of trainees, Date of Birth, and customer satisfaction.
• Final payment for businesses receiving IWT grants will be withheld until the final report is submitted and all performance criteria specified in the grant have been achieved.
• Businesses shall provide sufficient documentation to the local workforce investment area for identification of all employee participants for calculation of performance measures required by WIA, and any other outcomes deemed pertinent to the grant administrator.
• As a requirement of WIA, a follow-up survey will be conducted by the University of Memphis, of all trainees. This survey is to determine customer satisfaction.

When an IWT grant award is made it is for the completion of specific training components. If the company does not complete those training components by the end of the contract period, their final reimbursement will be pro-rated to bring their total reimbursement for the project inline with the actual training components completed.