Safety Training Funding: Grant Resources in New England, New York & New Jersey

by Meg Whynot-Young

If you could get safety training funded through a grant, your boss would think you were a hero! Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and every state in New England has a workforce educational grant for which you can apply to get funding for the training of your staff.

These grants can be used for all kinds of educational purposes, and each one has its own application process and guidelines for use. Get familiar with what is available for your company in your state so you can get money for the training your staff needs.

Here are the training grants available by state and some of the basic information you need to know to apply. Happy funding!

Connecticut -The Incumbent Worker Training Program

Connecticut offers training grants to companies with the goal of giving them a competitive edge.

How Do I Apply?
Companies should contact the Business Consultant assigned to their region. Regions are broken up into Southwest, South Central, North Central, Eastern, and Northwest. You can find your Business Consultant here.

How Much Funding is Available?
The Connecticut Department of Labor seems to be intentionally vague on this point, stating the flexibility of the grant, but not citing a specific dollar amount.

What Are The Deadlines?
The best way to find out how to apply for the grant is to contact the Business Consultant in your region.

Maine – The Maine Apprenticeship Program  (MAP)

Companies can register as an Apprenticeship Sponsor through the Maine Apprenticeship Program. Sponsors have the responsibility of providing on the job training opportunities for the apprentices and adhering to the Apprenticeship Program guidelines. The Maine Department of Labor will assist employers in developing their program.

How Do I Apply?
Contact Eileen Miazga, Apprenticeship Program Specialist, at Eileen.miazga@maine.gov or (207) 623-7966.

How Much Funding is Available?
The program will pay up to 50% of classroom instruction.

What Are The Deadlines?
There is a rolling enrollment for this program.

Massachusetts- DIA Workplace Safety Training Grant

The Workplace Safety Training and Education Grant Program was developed to increase safety in Massachusetts workplaces through training. Training must be completed by June 30th of the following year.

How Do I Apply?
You should complete the safety grant application which can be found online here. A recent (within the past six months) certificate of good standing with the Commonwealth should be obtained and submitted with your application.

How Much Funding is Available?
The program will award up to $25,000 a year per company.

What Are The Deadlines?
Applications are being accepted April 23, 2018, through September 28, 2018.

New Hampshire – NH Job Training Fund

New Hampshire employers and businesses who pay NH unemployment taxes are eligible to apply for training grants for their workforces, including safety training.

How Do I Apply?
You can find the grant application and instructions online here.

How Much Funding is Available?
Employers can receive between $750 and $100,000 for job training. Any requests for over $70,000 will require approval by the Governor and Executive Council and adds a month to the processing time. There is a minimum 1:1 cash match required for employers to be awarded the grant.

What Are The Deadlines?
You can apply anytime, but in order for your application to be reviewed at the next Grant Review meeting, it must be submitted about one month prior.

New Jersey -New Jersey Skills Partnership

New Jersey employers may apply for training grants to increase the skills of their workforce through the New Jersey Skills Partnership. The grants are awarded competitively each year.

How Do I Apply?
Employers should first review the Notice of Grant Opportunity page and then create an account online in SAGE and submit a letter of intent. A Business Representative will then be assigned to you and will contact you to assist you with navigating the process.

How Much Funding is Available?
You may be granted up to $1,500 per employee through the program, with a funding cap per entity.

What Are The Deadlines?
Applications are due very quickly after the announcement of the grant has been made, generally within less than a month. Information can be found on the Notice of Grant Opportunity page.

New York Department of Labor-Workforce Development Existing Employee Training (EET) Program

New York State releases $2M every year for employers to improve occupational skills and increase retention of their workforce.

How Do I Apply?
NY has one site Consolidated Funding Application (CFA)  where businesses can apply for a number of grants. The site includes a CFA Application Manual. Employers must be in good standing with NYS and must also register in Grants Gateway by October 1, 2018.

How Much Funding is Available?
Bidders can receive up to $100,000 grant for training existing employees.

What Are The Deadlines?
Applications must be submitted through the CFA portal by 4:00 pm ET, July 27, 2018.

Pennsylvania – The Training Program

The Pennsylvania Workforce & Economic Development Network (WEDnetPA) has made grant funds available to companies to increase the skill level and productivity of their workforce. Funds are available for both Essential Skills Training and Advanced Technology Training.

How Do I Apply?
First, employers should see if both the company and the employee meet the qualifications set forth by WEDnetPA. Then they can submit their application online.

How Much Funding is Available?
Employers may receive up to $450 per employee capped at $75,000 per entity during one fiscal year for Essential Skills Training.  Employers may receive up to $850 per employee capped at $50,000 per entity during one fiscal year for Advanced Technology Training.

What Are The Deadlines?
Employers can apply for the training grant online June 1 through July 31.

Rhode Island – Governor’s Workforce Board

The Governor’s Workforce Board has made training grant funds available to Rhode Island companies looking to increase the skill sets of their workers through Incumbent Worker Training Grants.

How Do I Apply?
Companies must pay into the Job Development Fund to be eligible to apply and must also be current on all Rhode Island tax payments. In addition, they must be in good standing with the state Workforce Regulation and Safety division and cannot have been prohibited from contracting with an agency that administers federal funds.
Qualifying businesses may apply online, on the GWB website.

How Much Funding is Available?
The Incumbent Training Worker Grant will reimburse employers up to 50% of direct training-related costs, for a total of $50,000 and up to $3,500 per trainee.

What Are The Deadlines?
There are no deadlines set forth by the GWB, but I highly recommend applying as early as possible during the fiscal year (July 1- June 30).

Vermont – The Vermont Training Program (VTP)

VTP has made training grants available to VT employers for new hires and incumbent workers. Approximately $1.2M is available to employers through this fund.

How Do I Apply?
Contact John Young, the Director of Workforce Development Programs for guidance on the application; (802) 355-2725.

How Much Funding is Available?
VTP will reimburse up to 50% of the training cost for pre-employment (with a guarantee of employment after training), new hire, and/or incumbent employee training.

What are the deadlines?
There are no deadlines; the applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. However, I recommend applying as early as possible within the state’s fiscal year.