Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) funding opportunity
Quarter 3 Funding is now closed due to funding exhaustion.
Quarter 4 opens at 12:01 am of 4/1/2024.
- You may start the application process, but do not press submit prior to the opening time/date.
- Early submissions will be denied.
The IWT program is a grant funding resource, helping to off-set a portion of skills-based training costs for incumbent workers employed by Montana's private sector organizations.
- "Incumbent" is defined as an individual who is working a minimum of 20+ hours/week, consecutively for a minimum of 6-months.
- Public, seasonal and non-paid workers/volunteers may NOT apply.
Organizations must demonstrate training will increase the worker's skill-level, result in a promotion or wage gain, or expand their market/increase revenue, with the intent of preserving existing jobs for Montana residents.
- "Organization" is defined as private sector, for-profit and non-profit, operating predominately year-round.
- "Predominately year-round" is defined as 11-months of consecutive operation.
WHEN TO SUBMIT:
Applications must be submitted at least 14-days prior to the start of training date.
Applications must be approved before training begins.
GRANT CAPS ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO WORKERS
Grant caps are tiered, based on the number of hours an eligible employee works:
- 20-34 hours a week year-round $1,000 (part time status)
- 35+ hours a week year-round $2,500 (full time status)
To see if your organization meets minimum qualifications, please visit www.iwt.mt.gov
HOW APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED
This is a competitive grant. Grant funding is allocated to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (MDLI) on a State Fiscal Year (July 1st - June 30th) and is available on a first-come first-served basis.
- Funding is not guaranteed. In order to ensure equitable distribution of funding across Montana, previous awardees or multiple submissions from any one employer may be waitlisted and/or denied.
- The review team also measures number of requests from one county and/or number of requests that indicate the same trainer may also be waitlisted or denied.
The following are not eligible for incumbent worker training grant funding:
- All staff training;
- Continuing education required to maintain professional certification or licensure;
- Training customarily required or provided by the business or industry;
- Conferences, Trade Shows, Expos, Summits;
- Training that occurred prior to the grant request being awarded;
- Subscription/Membership related trainings;
- Retreats;
- Trainings that exceed a year's time from start to finish;
- Training for which the incumbent worker was hired to do.
Refer to the MCA and ARM for criteria, rulemaking, requirements, processes, evaluation/limitations, claims and appeals. https://wsd.dli.mt.gov/employers/incumbent-worker-training-program/regulations-mca-and-arm