Montana Incumbent Worker Training Program
The Montana Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program is designed to assist small businesses in Montana by providing training grants to qualifying full-time and part-time employees. The program aims to help retain workers, enhance their skills, and boost wages, ultimately benefiting local businesses and residents. Eligibility criteria include being a for-profit or non-profit business with up to 50 employees statewide and operating in Montana for at least one year. Employees must reside and work in Montana, have been on the job for six months, and work year-round for at least 11 months consecutively. Certain categories of employees, such as consultants, volunteers, and part-time workers, may not be eligible for the program.
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Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) MICHELLE ROBINSON, PROGRAM MANAGER
Helping you invest in your employees Helping you invest in your employees Training grants Training grants for for qualifying employees qualifying employees: : Up to Up to $2,000 $2,000 for full time for full time Up to Up to $1,000 $1,000 for part time for part time
Purpose and Intent of IWT The The PURPOSE PURPOSE of the IWT program is to meet the training needs of incumbent workers in of the IWT program is to meet the training needs of incumbent workers in Montana s small businesses, and to help local businesses Montana s small businesses, and to help local businesses preserve existing jobs residents. residents. preserve existing jobs for Montana for Montana The The INTENT INTENT of the IWT program is to offset a portion of the costs for businesses in their of the IWT program is to offset a portion of the costs for businesses in their efforts to efforts to retain workers, and improve their workers skills and wages retain workers, and improve their workers skills and wages. . Montana Code Annotated 53 Montana Code Annotated 53- -2 2- -1215 1215
Is my business Is my business eligible for IWT funding? for IWT funding? eligible If your business: If your business: is a for profit or non is a for profit or non- -profit business operating in Montana a minimum of 1 year. profit business operating in Montana a minimum of 1 year. has no more than 50 employees statewide has no more than 50 employees statewide Effective 10/1/2023 all Effective 10/1/2023 all businesses with more than 50 businesses with more than 50 employees may apply is registered with the Secretary of State is registered with the Secretary of State can meet employer matching funds requirement can meet employer matching funds requirement employees may apply
Which employees are eligible? Resides and Works: Resides and Works: individual must live and work in the state of Montana individual must live and work in the state of Montana Incumbent: Incumbent: individual must be on the job for 6 individual must be on the job for 6- -months (Date of Hire to start of training proposed) of training proposed) months (Date of Hire to start Predominately year Predominately year- -round and works a minimum of an 11 and works a minimum of an 11- -month period consecutively. Which employees are not eligible? Which employees are not eligible? round: worker is employed an average of 20+hours/week : worker is employed an average of 20+hours/week month period consecutively. Public entities such as city, county, state and federal government Tribal governments or tribal enterprise employees Temporary or seasonal employees Individuals who work for a Montana company but reside out of state Consultants/contractors hired by the business (not an employee) Volunteer workers, board members (any non-paid individual Employees who work less than 20 hours average/week and are not working 11-month consecutively.
Match Requirement for Training Training Match Training Match Employer must demonstrate a 20% match for training cost. Employer must demonstrate a 20% match for training cost. Wages for attending training should be applied. If not, cash match Wages for attending training should be applied. If not, cash match must be noted. must be noted. Employee $10/hour x 8 hours of training Match is met with employee wage Training $400
Wages versus Cash Match WAGES CASH Training = $1,000 Training = $1,000 Training = $1,000 Training = $1,000 Employee wage = Employee wage = $10/hour $10/hour Employee wage = Employee wage = $0/hour $0/hour Hours in training = 20 Hours in training = 20 Hours in training = 20 Hours in training = 20 $10 x 20 hours = $200 $10 x 20 hours = $200 Employer must note Employer must note $200 cash match; $200 cash match; award reduced to $800 award reduced to $800 20% match; full award 20% match; full award $1,000 $1,000
What training is eligible? Skills Based: Skills Based: training in a new task or new way of performing an old task training in a new task or new way of performing an old task Certification Certification: results in an industry recognized credential/licensure not : results in an industry recognized credential/licensure not required to maintain professional certification/licensure required to maintain professional certification/licensure What training is not eligible? What training is not eligible? All Staff training Continuing Education required to maintain license/credential (no Continuing Ed credits) Conferences or Retreats Subscription/Membership related trainings Training customarily required by the business or industry Trainings that exceed a years time from start to finish Training for which the worker was hired to do
Eligible Eligible Training & Training & Travel Travel ELIGIBLE TRAINING ELIGIBLE TRAVEL Skills based training by a Skills based training by a certified trainer. certified trainer. In In- -state and out state and out- -of of- -state travel: state travel: Lodging (standard rates apply) Mileage Airfare Shuttle/taxi Baggage (standard rates apply) Needs to demonstrate this will improve the employees productivity and/or wages Must provide proof of completion
Not Eligible Not Eligible Training & Travel Training & Travel NOT ELIGIBLE TRAINING NOT ELIGIBLE TRAVEL Per diem/food Asset purchases Employee wages Trainer s travel expenses to come to site Continuing Education Training that is customarily required by employer Conferences Online, self-paced courses Training that occurs prior to grant request/award.
Match Requirement for Travel Travel Match Travel Match Employer must provide a cash match: 20% match for in-state travel 50% match for out-of-state travel.
In-State versus Out-of-State Match IN-STATE OUT-STATE Employer provides 20% Employer provides 20% of cash match for of cash match for eligible travel related eligible travel related expenses. expenses. Employer provides 50% Employer provides 50% of cash match for of cash match for eligible travel related eligible travel related expenses. expenses. Total for travel = $500 Total for travel = $500 Total for travel = $500 Total for travel = $500 Award = $400 Award = $400 Award = $250 Award = $250 *reimbursement based on *reimbursement based on actual receipts actual receipts. . *reimbursement based on *reimbursement based on actual receipts. actual receipts.
How the Process Works How the Process Works Before Training Register on Submittable Complete Application If Sign Financial Agreement Attend Training Awarded After Training Claim Post Evaluation Reimbursement
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) How Funding Has Been Used Over the Years Industries Common Training Beauty/Wellness Business Management Intra / Inter-Personal Communication Management / Leadership Skills Medical/therapy skills New Tech/Equipment Sales & Marketing Social Media Marketing Agriculture Business Services Construction Financial Activities Health & Education Information Leisure Activities Manufacturing Mining & Utilities Trade & Transportation
How Training has adapted to COVID COVID 19 WORK ENVIRO COVID 19 WORK ENVIRO Increased online training Increased online training Reduced travel expenses Reduced travel expenses 1 1- -2 person requests/apps 2 person requests/apps Lesser cost/person Lesser cost/person Increase in wellness Increase in wellness provider apps provider apps More certifications in More certifications in health and health and beauty beauty industries industries PRE PRE- -COVID COVID WORK ENVIRO WORK ENVIRO Travel to site for training Travel to site for training Larger travel budget Larger travel budget Small and large group Small and large group training training Higher cost/person Higher cost/person investment investment Majority of apps from Majority of apps from larger communities and larger communities and increase in leadership increase in leadership trainings trainings
Visit www.iwt.mt.gov Know the guidelines before applying Know the guidelines before applying
Incumbent Worker Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Training (IWT) Still have Questions? Reach Out MICHELLE ROBINSON IWT PROGRAM MANAGER CALL: 406-444-3351 VISIT: WWW.IWT.MT.GOV EMAIL: MICHELLE.ROBINSON@MT.GOV
