With so many new workers, more money than ever has been earmarked for training new and current employees. Training contributes to increased productivity, employee safety and overall job satisfaction. They should not be afraid to ask a training provider if they re willing to help secure it and provide the necessary information to get the grant or find out where the grants are. Education funding is available at both the federal and state levels. NSF grants are typically awarded to universities, colleges, academic consortia, nonprofit institutions and small businesses.
Most states provide some type of training reimbursement for the manufacturing industry.
In Illinois, businesses can work with Prairie State 2000, an independent state agency that funds training for Illinois-based businesses. The ETAP program provides financial assistance to companies who must retain their existing employees in new technologies or improve their current quality or productivity systems. That s why grant funding is so nice for manufacturing. It helps companies cover as much as one-half the cost and generate a return on their investment even faster, said Millunchick. Talking to others in local companies may help in your quest for educational dollars as well.