Background
The Vermont Training Program (VTP) has been offering performance-based workforce training grants for over 30 years. The VTP provides up to 50% of the training cost for: pre-employment, new hire, and/or incumbent employee training. Grants are paid out on a reimbursement basis upon completion of employee training.
Vision and Goals
The Vermont Training Program will be a flexible, nimble, and strategic workforce development program to enhance the skills of the Vermont workforce and increase productivity of Vermont employers.
Eligibility
- The VTP is open to all sectors of the Vermont economy. Priority is placed on the twelve "Vermont 2020" CEDS target sectors. Learn more here.
- Trainees must be full-time permanent employees working in Vermont
- Grants are offered for pre-employment training (with guaranteed hire post-training), new employee training, and incumbent employees
- Employers and training providers must show that the use of VTP funds supplement training efforts, not replace or supplant training efforts
- Training shall be directly related to the employment responsibilities of the employee
- VTP funds shall not duplicate other state and/or federal funds for employee training
- Employee compensation (hourly wage), at the completion of training, must equal or exceed the livable wage as defined by the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office (JFO). Currently set at $15.33 per hour
- Employees must be offered a minimum of three of the following employee benefits: health insurance (w/ 50% or more of the premium paid by the employer), dental assistance, paid vacation, paid holidays, child care, retirement benefits, other paid time off excluding paid sick days, other extraordinary employee benefits.
Application Process
Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. The VTP Staff are available to visit potential applicants and have a more in-depth discussion regarding the application and employee training needs.
Applications are reviewed by the VTP Review Team. The general turn-around time is 18 business days.
** Please note: The grant agreement must be signed before training begins.
The VTP may fund up to 50% of wages for each employee in training (on-site training) or up to 50% of the trainer expenses (classroom/vendor fee). Costs associated with travel, materials, equipment, consulting/coaching, and/or course development will not be considered.
The VTP is open to all sectors of the Vermont economy. When reviewing applications, the VTP is placing first priority on the following CEDS defined target sectors and related skills:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Financial Services
- Food Systems
- Forest Products
- Health Care
- Software Development & IT
- Biotechnology
- Clean Energy, Efficiency & Electricity Innovation
- Environmental Consulting, Green Business & Building
Secondary priority will be placed on the remaining CEDS defined target sectors and related skills:
- Arts & Culture
- Education
- Tourism & Recreation
The VTP welcomes businesses that fall within these sectors or are training employees in skills related to these sectors. For example, a media company does not fall within one of the twelve priority sectors. However, they may have a training project that centers on training software development skills. Because the skills trained fall within one of the 12 priority sectors, the training project would be considered.
Training Provider Application Focus
Training Provider applications to the VTP should be centered on a training project that has been identified with the assistance of multiple employer sponsors. These employer sponsors should commit employees to attend the training and are ideally involved with the development of course materials. However, training projects that will bring employees to a higher skilled positions and receive a wage increase upon completion are only required to have one employer sponsor.
Applications to the VTP should focus on a new specific and strategic/innovative employee training project. Applications should have a targeted approach rather than a broad brush. The more specific you can be about your training project the better.
Examples of a training project may be:
"A business contacted a training provider concerned that they do not have a steady pipeline of talent and that many of their skilled employees will be retiring soon. The training provider worked closely with the employer to develop a specific apprenticeship program that will take lower skilled or new employees and train them over the course of a year. At the completion of the one year apprenticeship the employer has committed to giving the employees raises, because they will have elevated their skills and they will have assumed a higher level position."
Additional priority will be placed on applications that show:
- New Hires
- Retained Employees
- Wage Increases for Employees
- Significant Investment in the Long-Term Success of the Company in Vermont
The VTP staff is always happy to be in contact with you to discuss specific employee training needs and questions.