Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives

1. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives March 2017 www.ctgov/dol

2. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • $16 million available for training programs that can often be stacked, resulting in annual $100,000+ reimbursements to employers that need to train new/existing employees in the latest technologies. Programs include: • Apprenticeship Programs- State Funded Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF) for Apprenticeship- Federally Funded American Apprenticeship Initiative Fund (AAI) • State Funded Manufacturing Innovation Fund (MIF) for Incumbent Workers • State Funded Subsidized Training and Employment Program (Step Up) • Additional Incentives and Services

3. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • Apprenticeship Programs • With the current challenges employers face in filling their skills gap and talent shortages, apprenticeship programs provide great training options: • Attracts new and more diverse talent • Helps companies fill positions more quickly • On-the-job learning provides customized training for employers/employees • Offers quicker, debt-free route to a good career • Increases skills of existing employees; creates employee training models • PLUS: wage subsidies, tuition reimbursements and tax credits that can amount to more than $22,000 per apprentice!

4. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • Manufacturing Innovation Fund – Apprenticeship Program • On-the-job training combined with customized classroom instruction$7.8M training program in partnership with DECD • Wage subsidies and tuition reimbursements: up to $13,000 for wages, $3,750 for tuition; $2,000 for credentialing costs • 161 apprentices are served by 27 companies

5. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • American Apprenticeship Initiative • $5M federal grant to create apprenticeship pathways in healthcare, information technology, business services and manufacturing • Tuition assistance up to $3,500 per Apprentice • Goal: Raise technical skills of 1,000 apprentices, expand apprenticeship opportunities in non-traditional occupations, enhance skills of incumbent workers

6. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • How Does Apprenticeship Work? • Employers partner with CTDOL’s Office of Apprenticeship Training to develop on-the-job training (OJT) combined with related classroom instruction at the work site • Apprentices earn a wage while learning, with wage progression as skills increase • Under direction of a skilled employee, Apprentices receive minimum2,000 hours of OJT training, including 144 hours yearly of related technical instruction (classroom or online) • Apprentice (age 16 or older) follows an agreed-upon work schedule developed by the organization and CTDOL

7. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • Manufacturing Innovation Fund – IWTP • $7M training program in partnership with DECD • Offers matching funds from $5,000 - $100,000 in training grants to keep companies competitive • For small businesses with 2,000 employees or less; employers match grants dollar for dollar • Eligible industries: aerospace, medical devices, composite materials, digital manufacturing • 170 companies have been served to date

8. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • State Incumbent Worker Training Program • $700,000 annually to train current employees, impart new skills • Matching funds for training that includes written/oral communications, math, science, or technical skills • Focus companies: high-growth industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, finance, bioscience • 38 employers companies have been served to date

9. Demand-Driven Workforce Development Initiatives • Subsidized Employment and Training Program (Step Up) • Step Up wage/training incentives and Step Up for Veterans- for employers hiring an unemployed jobseeker - provides employers up to $12,500 over 6 months to help cover training costs • Step Up for Apprentices - for employers hiring an apprentice - wage subsidies up to $10/hour for first 6 months • Month 1 = 100% reimbursementMonths 2 & 3 = 75% reimbursement • Months 4 & 5 = 50% reimbursement • Month 6 = 25% reimbursement • Served: 1,441 companies and 4,871 jobseekers

10. Additional Incentives and Services • Tax Credits • Employer manufacturing tax credit for apprentices • Veterans tax credits • Work Opportunity Tax Credit • CT Hires online employment service • Free online job bank to post job openings; review posted résumés • High visibility of your company to attract quality candidates

11. Additional Incentives and Services • Business Services Specialists • Offer customized business solutions for expansion, training, hiring • Regional representatives come to your office and listen to your needs • Veterans Representatives • Help match employers with qualified veterans • Veterans representatives come to your office and listen to your needs • Office of Research • Provides workforce data on economy, wages, employment statistics, job growth and projections to assist with strategic planning

12. Contact Information • Apprenticeship Programs: www.ctapprenticeship.com or 860.263.6087 • Veterans Services: www.ctvetjobs.com or 860.263.6514 • CT Hires Assistance: www.cthires.comor 860.263.6040 • Step Up programs: www.StepCT.com for list of regional representatives • Office of Research: www.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi or 860.263.6255 • Business Services Specialists • Bridgeport region: (203)455.2601 Hartford region: (860)256.3699 • New London region: (860)412.7021 New Haven region: (203)859.3303 Waterbury region: (203)437.3274