Summit County Workforce Development Matching Grant Program

The Summit County Workforce Development Matching Grant Program provides grants to correct an employee’s skill deficiency or upgrade their skill level in their current occupations physically located in Summit County. Summit County Workforce Development Matching Grant: up to $16,000 per business per fiscal year. $4,000 per trainee per fiscal year. Workforce training funds targeted towards the building trade industries shall be given priority. Applicants are required to demonstrate a community commitment equal to a 40% cash match. The Workforce Development grant is a reimbursement grant. Total project funds (receipts to be provided) must be spent prior to requesting reimbursement. Funding from other federal, state or local government grants or other subsidies can be used to finance the project but will not be considered to be part of the private capital requirement.

Qualified businesses must be physically located in Summit County. • Training will either correct an employee’s skill deficiency or upgrade an employee’s current skill level. • There must be a direct relationship between the training and the trainee’s occupation or craft. • There is a need for the skill upgrade provided by the training for the business to remain competitive in the industry or economy; and the skill upgraded provided by the training will: o Enhance the business’s productivity, efficiency or profitability. o Reduce employee turnover. o Enhance employee effectiveness. o Facilitate the creation of new full-time, part time or contracted positions and/or enhance employee wages upon completion of the training. Direct training costs include, but are not limited to, tuition, registration, class fees and class materials directly related to the training; • Instructor’s fees, when a participant fee is not charged, and travel expenses where the instructor is brought in for the training by the business entity and is not an employee of the business entity. • Assessments, testing, fees for license and certification exams. • License renewal and recertification fees. • Registered Apprenticeship Programs. • Pre-hire workforce development training. Non‐allowable Training Expenses. The following training expenses shall not be allowed: • Trainees’ wages and fringe benefits. • The business entity’s administration expenses which include, but are not limited to, bookkeeping, reporting and record keeping. • The business entity’s cost of preparing a Business Training Grant application. • Purchased, rented, or leased equipment including computer hardware and/or software. • Instructor’s fees and travel expenses where the instructor is an employee of the business entity. • Capital construction of any kind. • Transportation, Lodging and meals.

Workforce development activities must be completed within 12 months. An extension may be granted if an applicant can identify “hardship” conditions acceptable to Summit County.