Workforce training vouchers announced

VW Economic Development news

The Ohio Development Services Agency (DSA), formerly the Ohio Department of Development, announced last week the coming of the second round of the Ohio Incumbent Workforce Training Voucher Program, which is expected to be available in early September.

The voucher program is intended to fill a gap in the current workforce development programs by providing needed training dollars to Ohio employers and their employees. This program is an effort to retain and grow employers’ existing workforce to meet the present and future demands of the global marketplace.

In partnership with the Ohiomeansjobs.com program, the employer-driven program is targeted to provide direct financial assistance to train workers in an effort to improve their skills and the overall competitiveness of Ohio’s employers.

The program is designed to offset a portion of the employer’s cost to upgrade skills of its current workforce and provide a reimbursement to eligible employers for specific training costs.

The program will be administered on a first-come, first served application process until all of the available funds are committed. The program allows for up to $4,000 per employee per year or $500,000 per employer. The program will reimburse employers for up to 50 percent of the cost of training once the employers pays the full cost of the training. The employer’s contribution must come from private sources and does not allow any previously acquired public funds to be used as part of the 50 percent match.

To find out how a company can apply for the training voucher program, contact Cindy Leis at the Van Wert County Economic Development office by calling 419.238.2999 or by email at leis.40@osu.edu