Current through Register Vol. 18, September 20, 2024
(1) The department provides grant funding on
a first-come, first-served basis, in accordance with the receipt by the
department of a complete application for funding.
(a) As required by
53-2-1218, MCA, applications will
be reviewed based on funding evenly distributed across fiscal year quarters and
by employer size. Funding not used during a quarter will be carried over to the
next quarter to employers of any size. Funding assigned to the program but not
utilized during the fiscal year will not be carried forward. During the quarter
from July 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023, solely employers with 50 or
fewer workers are eligible for grants.
(b) Although incumbent worker training grants
are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis, the department
reserves the right to defer the review of multiple grant applications submitted
by any single employer, in order to provide funding to employers on an
equitable basis.
(c) Applications
for which review has been deferred will be reconsidered and evaluated on a
quarterly basis during the state fiscal year in which the application was
submitted. An employer's successful use of grant funding for completed training
during the current year or previous years is a factor which will generally
weigh in favor of additional applications being granted during the
year.
(2) The department
shall award incumbent worker training grant funds to employers in accordance
with the grant award criteria set forth by
53-2-1218, MCA.
(3) The department shall award incumbent
worker training grant funds only to employers who have demonstrated that
incumbent worker training is an integral part of a plan for worker retention,
skill improvement, or wage enhancement. The plan is demonstrated by the
information provided on the grant application.
(4) The department shall award incumbent
worker training grant funds on a prospective basis only and may not award grant
funding to an employer for training that occurred prior to the date upon which
the application was approved by the department.
(5) The department shall award incumbent
worker training grant funds only for training that is completed in less than a
year.
(6) The following are not
eligible for incumbent worker training grant funding:
(a) continuing education that is necessary to
maintain a license or certification;
(b) conferences, except that training that
occurs in conjunction with a conference may be permissible;
(c) training customarily provided or required
by the employer or the industry. This includes new employee training and
training required to perform the duties the incumbent worker was hired to
perform; and
(d) periodic updates
regarding laws or product lines.
(7) Grants are funded on the basis of the
state fiscal year. Funding may not exceed:
(a)
$1,000 per incumbent worker working an average of 20 to 34 hours a week,
predominantly year round; and
(b)
$2,000 for applications received between July 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023,
and $2,500 for applications received on or after October 1, 2023, per incumbent
worker working an average of 35 or more hours a week, predominantly year
round.
AUTH:
53-2-1220, MCA; IMP:
53-2-1217,
53-2-1218,
MCA
