Existing Business Resources
Customized Training Incentives
The Existing Workforce Training Program provides financial assistance to Arkansas's businesses and eligible consortia of businesses for upgrading the skills of the existing workforce. Skills upgrade training is instruction conducted in a classroom environment at a work site, an educational institution or a neutral location, that provides an existing, full-time employee with the new skills necessary to enhance productivity, improve performance and/or retain employment.
Eligible businesses:
- Manufacturers in the NAICS codes 31-33
- Computer firms that derive at least 75% of their revenue from sales outside of Arkansas and have no retail sales to the general public
- Firms primarily engaged in commercial, physical and biological research as defined by NAICS code 541710
Eligible Employees
Training is for full-time, permanent employees who have been working at the company for at least six months and who are subject to Arkansas persoanl income tax.
Skills Upgrade Training
The training helps a company and its employees to:
- Adapt to new or altered technologies of management and supervisory systems, continuous improvement or production needs
- Acquire the new skills needed to remain competitive, productive and economically viable
The EWTP covers classroom instruction at a work site, an educational institution or a neutral location. Training delivered by means other than tradition classroom training may be considered by the EWTP governing council, who will establish a flat rate of reimbursement if the training is approved.
Funding Available
EWTP reimbursements are calculated according to a set of scoring criteria. For companies that use a state-supported educational institution, the program pays the lesser of the following: 50% of the cost of training paid to the school OR
- $60 per instructional hour, times the number of instructional hours delivered by a full-time instructor or trainer; 50% or more eligible participants must complete each course.
- $50 per instructional hour, times the number of instructional hours delivered by adjunct or part-time instructors or trainers; 50% or more eligible participants must complete each course.
- $35 per instructional hour, times the number of instructional hours for safety-related training (regardless of instructor status).
- $35 per instructional hour, times the number of instructional hours for all courses if fewer than 50% of eligible participants complete each course.
- For companies that use their own employees or company-paid consultants to deliver classroom training to their employees, the EWTP offers an Arkansas income tax credit that cannot exceed $15 per instructional hour.
The maximum funding for any one company site cannot exceed $50,000 per calendar year.
To be considered for EWTP financial assistance, a company must submit an application prior to the beginning of training, provide assurance that the participants involved in the proposed training program possess the requisite literacy skills, and clearly tie the proposed training to specific business goals and performance objectives.
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