|
Take advantage of Federal and State grant programs to provide your staff with new and upgraded skills, receive customized training to meaningful impact your business, and save money doing it! Grants available through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and the U.S. Department of Labor provide qualified individuals and businesses $800 -$5,000 per employee to offset training costs. All sizes of business are encouraged to apply for funding for training of both new and existing employees.
Colorado's First and Existing Industry grants, jointly administered by OEDIT and the Colorado Community College System, will fund training for transferable job skills that support both the company's economic competitiveness by re-training its workers in new skills, and enhance workers' resumes and long-term employment opportunities. Colorado First grants are for companies that are relocating to Colorado, or existing companies that are undertaking a major expansion. Existing Industry grants are for companies implementing new technology or business strategies to remain competitive in the market and keep jobs in Colorado.
"The Colorado First and Existing Industry training program grew this year to support the training needs of Colorado businesses. We hope this new influx of funding can support the customized training needs of business growing and innovating in our state," said Sam Bailey, OEDIT Business Development Manager. Yvonne Gilstrap, Planning and Grants Manager for the Colorado Community College System, said, "As co-administrator of Colorado First and Existing Industry grants, the Colorado Community College System provides access to funding, skill-based training, and other resources to strengthen manufacturing companies." For more information, visit the OEDIT Job Training Grants Program web page.
The H-1B Technical Skills Training Grant provides funding to Colorado companies for up to 100% of the costs for eligible employee training through June 2015. The state of Colorado was awarded $5 million to provide education and training to employed and unemployed individuals for highly technical positions that have historically been filled by foreign workers on H-1B visas in large numbers due to shortage of those skills in the U.S. Manufacturing companies across the state are utilizing H-1B grant funding to raise the technical skills of their mid- to high-level workers, retain their best talent, and increase business competitiveness.
Kate Anderson, Colorado Department of Labor H-1B Program Coordinator said, "This grant aims to give Colorado's workers the skills needed to secure or retain jobs in high-skilled sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and other industries using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) skills." More information about the H-1B Grant is available at the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment website.
To learn more about these grant opportunities, please contact your CAMT representative or Merrily Hill Smith via email or 720.839.8618.
|
