Incumbent Worker Training

The purpose of Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) is to provide resources for employers to train currently employed workers is an effort to keep businesses and workers competitive. It addresses training needed to meet changing skill requirements caused by new technology, retooling, new product lines, and new organizational structuring. If you are interested in receiving information on the IWT program, complete the applicable information requested below and you will be contacted by Hope Turner, the Santee-Lynches Workforce Development Financial Coordinator. Click here to open form in new window.

2009 IWT Application for Funds. (176 KB PDF Document)
Funding is NOT available at this time.

Program Guidelines
The IWT Program is funded by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Applications are open to all South Carolina companies meeting the guidelines listed below.
Business Applying for Funding
- Must have been in operation in South Carolina for a minimum of one year prior to application date to be eligible for grant funding
- Must have at least one full-time employee
- Must be current on all state tax obligations
Priority Will Be Given To
- Businesses whose applications represent a significant upgrade in employee skills and/or employee wage increases as a result of training.
- Businesses whose applications represent layoff avoidance strategy and provide retention opportunities.
- Businesses/Business sites who have not received an IWT award during the prior or current program year.
Training Services
- Can be provided through South Carolina's technical colleges, school districts, area vocational-technical centers, state universities, or licensed and certified private entities/institutions.
- Can be conducted at the business's own facility, at the training provider's facility or at a combination of sites.
- Instructors can be either full or part-time educators or professional trainers from the business.
Reimbursable Training Expenses
- Instructors'/Trainers' salaries
- Curriculum development
- Textbooks/manuals
- Materials and supplies
Non-Reimbursable Expenses
- Trainee wages
- Trainee travel
- Training equipment
- Capital improvements
- Purchase of any item or service that may possibly be used outside of the training project
- Costs incurred prior to the approval date of the application
Grant Awards
- With the high demand and limited funding available, all applications will be evaluated to leverage other state, federal and private funds with Incumbent Worker Training Funds
- Employers normally must provide a matching contribution to the training project, however effective March 1, 2009, and continuing for an indefinite period of time, the matching contribution requirements have been waived for new IWT agreements.
- Business approved for funds must sign an agreement to complete the training project as proposed
- Business must keep accurate records of the project's implementation process
- Business must submit reimbursement requests with required documentation
Project Completion
- Training projects are performance based with specific measurable outcomes, including the completion of the training and job retention
- Business will provide sufficient documentation for identification of all employee trainees for calculation of performance measures and outcomes deemed pertinent to the local workforce system.
- Last payment will be withheld until the final report is submitted and all performance criteria specified in the grant agreement have been achieved to include:
(1) Submission of required documentation
(2) Employer matching contribution

Application Instructions

Announcement: Additional IWT Funds are now available for Program Year 2008. Please complete the IWT Application utilizing the IWT Guidelines. All applications are due by Monday, August 10, 2009 at 5:00 pm to Hope Turner, Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, REFERENCE: IWT Program, PO Box 1837, Sumter, SC 29151.

After April 1, 2009, interested applicants are asked to complete the IWT Program Form linked to above.

If you have any questions please contact Hope Turner, at 803-775-7381 or hturner@slcog.org.

The WIA Title-I financially assisted program is an equal opportunity employer/program and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Speech and hearing impaired individuals may use the TTY Relay Service by dialing 711.

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