|
|
|
|
|
Customized Training Incentives The Arkansas Department of Workforce Education’s Business and Industry Training Program (BITP) is a nationally recognized program for new and expanding companies. BITP program project managers work with the Arkansas Department of Economic Development’s Community and Business Development team when negotiating with new and expanding companies. The project managers then work closely with the company throughout the training project, meeting with the local educational institution and the company coordinator to find the best trainers for the company's needs. Eligible businesses include: Manufacturing firms; National, corporate or regional headquarters; Distribution centers; and Knowledge-based companies. The Business and Industry Training Program has thee emphases – recruiting workers, pre-employment training, and on-the-job training. www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=Customized_Training
The BITP provides financial assistance to recruit the workforce required for new and expanding businesses and industries in Arkansas. Workers are usually recruited through newspaper ads, but other forms of recruitment may be used. The company-specific recruitment can include working with the local Employment Security Department (ESD) office, locating a site to receive applications and providing temporary help for receiving applications. www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=Customized_Training
For more than 30 years ADED has operated a successful pre-employment training program for new and expanding companies, customizing the number of hours and content of the training to fit the specific needs of each company. Pre- employment training is a plus for both the company and the trainees. It gives the trainees an opportunity to look at the company and the job, and the company an opportunity to view trainees before they are hired. www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=Customized_Training
Following pre-employment training, if the company hires the trainee, ADED helps pay the instructional costs to train the new employee. Hours of instruction and the number of instructors depend on the types of jobs that require on-the-job training. Contact: Arkansas Department of Economic Development, 1-800-ARKANSAS or (501) 682-1121, www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=Customized_Training
Existing Workforce Training Program
EWTP provides financial assistance to Arkansas' businesses and eligible consortia of businesses for upgrading the skills of the existing workforce. Skills upgrade training is defined as 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 include Manufacturers in NAICS codes 31-33; Eligible computer firms with no public retail sales that derive at least 75 percent of their revenue from out-of-state sales; or Businesses primarily engaged in commercial physical and biological research. Financial assistance is available in two forms. For eligible businesses that use a state-supported educational institution, the EWTP provides direct funding or income tax credits up to 50 percent of the cost of training paid to the school or up to $60 per instructional hour, whichever is less. Training Consortia receive the same rate of assistance in the form of direct funding only.
For businesses that use their own employees or company-paid consultants to deliver the classroom training to their employees, the EWTP offers an income tax credit of $15 per instructional hour. Training Consortia that use training providers other than state-supported educational institutions receive direct funding at the $15 per instructional hour rate. The maximum combined direct funding and income tax credits for any one-company site cannot exceed $50,000 per calendar year.
To apply for EWTP financial assistance, companies and consortia work with a Customized Training Coordinator from the Department of Economic Development or an Education Coordinator from a state-supported educational institution. www.1800arkansas.com/CTC/index.cfm Customized Training Coordinators and Education Coordinators work with the company to outline their training needs and complete and submit the application. Contact: Arkansas Department of Economic Development, 1-800-ARKANSAS, (501) 682-1121, www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=Customized_Training
Arkansas offers valuable opportunities for workforce training programs. Along with the Existing Workforce Training Program and the Business and Industry Training Program offered through the Department of Economic Development, Arkansas is also home to a network of workforce training consortia. A training consortium is a community-based, formal organization of businesses and industries that identifies common training needs in the area and arranges classes that are customized to meet their specific requirements. Currently, there are ten existing consortia operating throughout the state, as well as five consortia in development. These employer-driven consortia allow each individual community to tailor its training programs around local industry needs. Cooperative efforts between industry and educators result in classes on a variety of topics, such as computer skills, professional development, mechanical skills, welding and electrical skills. Contact: Arkansas Department of Workforce Development, 870) 862-9431, www.1800arkansas.com/incentives/index.cfm?page=training_consortia
Workforce Development and Readiness
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federally funded, locally administered program designed to create an employment and training system dedicated to improving the quality of employment services provided to employers and citizens of Southwest Arkansas. This program provides a variety of services, including:
On-The-Job Training (OJT) - On-the-job training is training in the private or public sector. The OJT employee receives "hands on" training in a production setting. The OJT employer is reimbursed half of the OJT employee's wage for the period that the person is in training.
Institutional - Institutional training can take place in either an occupational or non-occupational area. It allows the clients to obtain technical skills and information required to perform a specific job or group of jobs. Clients in occupational areas are limited to training in fields that are currently in demand or have the potential for growth.
Work Experience - Work Experience is a short-term or part-time work assignment with a public or private non-profit agency. The training is for those clients who need assistance in becoming accustomed to basic work requirements.
Limited Internship - Limited Internship involves assignments in the private, for-profit sector for out-of-school youth. Training is designed to enhance the long-term employability of the youth. Contact: Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, (870) 234-4030, www.swapdd.dina.org/geninfo/district.html#wdr
The Coordinating and
Development Corp. Copyright 2006, The Coordinating and Development Corporation. Redistribution to all others interested in economic development is strongly encouraged. Please cite The Coordinating and Development Corporation whenever portions are reproduced or redirected. | Contact Us | Site Map | CDC Executive Committee Members | CDC Divisions | | CDC Affiliates and Subsidiaries | Business Resource Guide | | Renewal Community Initiative | This Site Created, Hosted and Maintained by Desoto Data Base, LLC |
