THE LOCAL GUILFORD COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD INCUMBENT WORKER SMALL BUSINESS TRAINING GRANT GUIDELINES KEY POINTS: The Guilford County Workforce Development Board IW Small Business Training Grant is a competitive training grant through which qualifying businesses can address employees’ skills gaps and impact company stability. These skills gaps can be a result of a worker’s changing responsibilities/requirements in her/his job, or for a worker whose job may potentially be eliminated and skill upgrading is needed to accept new responsibilities. The Guilford County WDB IW training should result in increased knowledge, certifications, and the competitiveness of the employee and employer. The business applicant must be a Guilford County for profit, or private not-for-profit business which generates income through the production of products or the provision of services; have been in operation for at least twenty-four months and in operation in Guilford County for the entire twelve (12) month period prior to the application deadline date; current on all Federal, North Carolina, Guilford County, and city tax obligations; ensure that all trainees are current employees of the business; and have 100 or less employees at its primary business location in Guilford County; a group applicant cannot have more than 250 employees in Guilford County and no single employer within the group may employ more than 100 individuals. Guilford County WDB IW Training Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The maximum amount is $15,000 per grant, with a lifetime funding limit of $30, 000. The Guilford County WDB IW Training Grant is administered through the Local Guilford County Workforce Development Boards Staff (LWDB). Applications are submitted directly to a LWDB. A LWDB member may request additional information or establish supplemental provisions and requirements for the training applications. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION SUBMITTAL: 2nd Quarter – November 17, 2017 3rd Quarter – January 19, 2018 4th Quarter – April 20, 2018 AWARD NOTICE: 2nd Quarter – December 8, 2017 3rd Quarter – February 6, 2018 4th Quarter – May 8, 2018 CONTRACT INITITATED: 2nd Quarter – December 29, 2017 3rd Quarter – March 23, 2018 4th Quarter – June 22, 2018
for training that addresses its employees’ skills gaps, and can be completed in a twelve (12) month time frame. Under extenuating circumstances, a request can be made by the business to the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) to extend the date of a contract. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In any event, no extension will exceed 30 days past the end date of the original contract. ONCE THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN AWARDED A GUILFORD COUNTY WDB IW GRANT, CAN IT CHANGE THE TYPE(S) OF TRAINING OR USE OF FUNDS APPROVED IN THE GRANT? The G u i l f o r d C o u n t y WDB IW Training Grant is a competitive training grant and each application is evaluated against eligibility criteria. If there is an extenuating circumstance that leads to a need to request a change to the approved training, the business must contact the LWDB staff to discuss the best alternatives. Training changes cannot create a new application and must continue to address the trainees’ originally identified skills gaps, be completed within the original one-year timeframe, and meet the G uilfo r d Co un t y W D B IW criteria. The LWDB s taff will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. WHAT INFORMATION IS A BUSINESS REQUIRED TO SUPPLY TO THE LWDB ON THE EMPLOYEES TO BE TRAINED? The LWDB will discuss with the business the employee information required on the trainees. Federal requirements mandate funded businesses provide, at a minimum, the following data for each training participant: Social Security Number Complete Name and Contact Information Gender Date of Birth Citizenship (Right-to-Work Status) Selective Service Compliance Person with Disability Ethnicity and Race Veterans Status Hire Date It is possible that more information may be needed. The business must also ensure that each trainee has an employer-employee relationship and an employment history of 6 months or more with the employer. ARE ANY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS EXPECTED OF THE BUSINESS? Yes. The Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) will advise and discuss the reporting requirements for the grant award, to include content, time frame and other matters. A final report on the training is due no later than forty-five (45) days from the end of the training. EVALUATION PROCEDURES The business will submit a monthly project performance report during the term of the agreement. Invoices for activities will be on a cost-reimbursement basis only and documentation must be sufficient