Wyo. Code R. 053-0017-1
Effective Date: 06/02/2004 to 05/29/2012
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 053.0017.1.06022004
BUSINESS TRAINING AND OUTREACH DIVISION
BUSINESS TRAINING GRANTS
The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is authorized under the DWS Act W.S. 9-2-2601 (c), W.S. 9-2-2602 (b) (vi) and the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act, W.S. 16-3-101 et seq. to promulgate rules and regulations to be used by DWS in the discharge of its functions.
Business training grants provide opportunities for new or existing businesses to create new jobs or to upgrade the skills of workers.
(i) The following business entities are eligible to apply for training grants under this section:
(A) All business entities that are registered with the Wyoming Secretary of State to conduct business in Wyoming;
(B) Wyoming sole proprietorships;
(C) Wyoming partnerships; and
(D) Wyoming county hospitals.
(ii) All government entities are not eligible for training grants.
(iii) Business entities shall meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive training grants under this section. The business entity must be:
(A) In good standing with the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance program, if required;
(B) In good standing with the Wyoming Workers Compensation program, if required;
(C) Registered and in good standing with the Wyoming Secretary of State's office, if required; and
(D) In good standing with the Workforce Development Training Fund (WDTF).
In order for the training to be approved under this section, the business entity must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of DWS, the following:
(i) Training will either correct an employee's skill deficiency or upgrade an employee's current skill level;
(ii) A direct relationship between the training and the trainee's occupation or craft;
(iii) The training is not normally provided by the business entity;
(iv) The business entity will not substitute funds normally provided for training or funds obtained from another source with Business Training Grant funds;
(v) There is a need for the skill upgrade provided by the training for the business entity to remain competitive in the industry or economy; and
(vi) The skill upgrade provided by the training will:
(A) Enhance the business entity's productivity, efficiency or profitability;
(B) Reduce employee turnover; or
(C) Enhance employee wages.
In order for a trainee to be eligible to participate in training under this section, the trainee must be working in Wyoming for the eligible business entity applying for the training grant under this section.
The grant funding limit per trainee shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per state fiscal year.
(i) For each state fiscal year, a business entity may only apply for a total of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for training per trainee under this section.
(ii) For each state fiscal year, a trainee may only receive a total of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) worth of training under this section, regardless of the number of business entities the trainee works for during a state fiscal year.
The business entity approved for a training grant under this section shall be required to pay forty percent (40%) of approved allowable training expenses. For Section 3 only, the remaining sixty percent (60%) of approved allowable training expenses shall be the total training grant award (Grant Award).
The following training expenses shall be allowed:
(i) Direct training costs include, but are not limited to, tuition, registration, class fees and class materials directly related to the training;
(ii) Travel expenses include transportation, lodging and meals directly related to the training;
(iii) Instructor’s fees and travel expenses where the instructor is brought in for the training by the business entity and is not an employee of the business entity; and
(iv) Fees for continuing education units and certifications that may be obtained during the training.
The following training expenses shall not be allowed:
(i) Trainee’s wages and fringe benefits;
(ii) The business entity’s administration expenses which include, but are not limited to, bookkeeping, reporting and record keeping;
(iii) The business entity’s cost of preparing a Business Training Grant application;
(iv) Purchased, rented or leased equipment;
(v) Instructor’s fees and travel expenses where the instructor is an employee of the business entity;
(vi) Assessments, testing and certification exams that are not included in the training; and
(vii) Capital construction of any kind.
Business entities applying for training grants under this section shall:
(i) Complete the Business Training Grant application provided by DWS, and
(ii) Submit a completed Business Training Grant application to DWS.
(A) Business Training Grant applications that are submitted more than one hundred ten (110) days before the scheduled training date will not be accepted, and
(B) Business Training Grant applications that are submitted less than forty-five (45) days before the scheduled training date will not be accepted.
(i) The Director of DWS may approve any training grant application that meets the requirements of Sections 3 (a) through (h) of these rules.
(ii) If the training grant is approved and funds are available, DWS shall enter into a contract with the approved business entity.
(iii) Grant funds shall be paid directly to the business entity.
(i) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the Grant Award shall be remitted to the business entity after the contract is fully executed and the necessary paperwork has been processed through the state fiscal system.
(ii) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Grant Award shall be withheld by DWS as retainage. Payment of the retainage to the business entity shall be subject to the following:
(A) Subject to Section 3 (k) (iii), (iv) and (v) below, the amount of the retainage associated with each trainee shall be remitted to the business entity if the trainee:
(I) Has completed the training, and
(II) Has been retained in employment with the business entity for a ninety (90)-day period after the date of completion of the training.
(B) For each trainee who does not complete the training:
(I) The retainage relating to the trainee shall not be remitted to the business entity, and
(II) The business entity shall repay DWS the seventy-five percent (75%) of the Grant Award relating to the trainee who did not complete the training.
(C) For each trainee who has completed the training but was not retained in employment with the business entity for ninety (90) days after completion of the training, the business entity shall not receive the retainage relating to that trainee.
(D) When a business entity is required to repay DWS under Section 3 (j) (ii) (B), the repayment shall be made to DWS no later than thirty (30) days after notification from DWS that a repayment is due.
(E) A business entity may seek a waiver of repayment when the employee, during the training, is:
(I) Terminated for cause;
(II) Activated for military service; or
(III) Deceased.
(k) Final report
The business entity shall submit a final report of the results of the training to DWS.
(i) The final report is due no later than one hundred thirty-five (135) days after the training is completed.
(ii) The final report shall include:
(A) A summary report of the results of the training program; (B) A copy of the agenda or registration form for the training;
(C) A payroll record listing the name(s), social security number(s) and hourly wages of the employee(s) trained for a pay period ninety (90) days after the training has been completed; and
(D) Invoices or receipts for allowable expenses, including travel and registration.
(iii) Where the Grant Award is greater than the actual training expenses, the retainage shall be reduced by the difference between the Grant Award and the actual training expenses.
(iv) Where the difference between the Grant Award and the actual training expenses is greater than the retainage, the business entity shall repay DWS the dollar amount that the difference exceeds the retainage.
(v) Where the actual training expenses are greater than the Grant Award, the difference shall be the sole responsibility of the business entity.
(vi) The business entity shall repay the entire Grant Award if the final report is not submitted in accordance with Section 3 (k).
(vii) If a business entity does not submit a final report or does not repay DWS money owed in accordance with these rules, the business entity's file may be sent to the State of Wyoming Attorney General's office for appropriate action.
(a) Business Entity Eligibility
(i) The following business entities are eligible to apply for training grants under this section:
(A) All business entities that are registered with the Wyoming Secretary of State to conduct business in Wyoming; (B) Wyoming sole proprietorships; (C) Wyoming partnerships; and (D) Wyoming county hospitals.
(ii) All government entities are not eligible for training grants.
(iii) Business entities shall meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive training grants under this section. The business entity must be:
(A) In good standing with the Wyoming Unemployment Insurance program, if required;
(B) In good standing with the Wyoming Workers Compensation program, if required;
(C) Registered and in good standing with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office, if required; and
(D) In good standing with WDTF.
In order for the training to be approved under this section, the business entity must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of DWS, a direct relationship between the training and the trainee’s occupation or craft.
In order for a trainee to be eligible to participate in training under this section, the trainee must be working in Wyoming for the eligible Wyoming business entity applying for the training grant under this section.
Under this section, the grant funding limit per trainee per state fiscal year shall be:
(i) One thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per trainee working less than thirty-five (35) hours per week. If a trainee is trained under this funding limit, the trainee shall not be eligible to be trained under either (d) (ii) or (iii);
(ii) Two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per trainee working thirty-five (35) or more hours per week. If a trainee is trained under this funding limit, the trainee shall not be eligible to be trained under either (d) (i) or (iii); and
(iii) Four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) per trainee whose wages are equal to or greater than the county average hourly wage as determined by the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a trainee is trained under this funding limit, the trainee shall not be eligible to be trained under either (d) (i) or (ii).
(iv) If a trainee is trained under Section 3 of these rules during a state fiscal year, the trainee may be eligible to be trained under Section 4 of these rules during the same state fiscal year.
For Section 4 only, one hundred percent (100%) of approved allowable training expenses shall be the total training grant award (Grant Award).
The following training expenses shall be allowed:
(i) Direct training costs include, but are not limited to, tuition, registration, class fees and class materials directly related to the training;
(ii) Travel expenses include transportation, lodging and meals directly related to the training;
(iii) Instructor’s fees and travel expenses where the instructor is brought in for the training by the business entity;
(iv) Instructor’s fees and travel expenses where the instructor is an employee of the business entity;
(v) Trainee’s wages; and
(vi) Fees for continuing education units and certifications that may be obtained during the training.
The following training expenses shall not be covered:
(i) Trainee’s fringe benefits;
(ii) The business entity’s administration expenses which include, but are not limited to, bookkeeping, reporting and record keeping;
(iii) The business entity’s cost of preparing a Business Training Grant application;
(iv) Purchased, rented or leased equipment;
(v) Instructor’s wages where the instructor is an employee of the business;
(vi) Assessments, testing and certification exams that are not included in the training; and
(vii) Capital construction of any kind.
(h) Grant Application Process
Business entities applying for training grants under this section shall:
(i) Complete the Business Training Grant application provided by DWS, and
(ii) Submit a completed Business Training Grant application to DWS.
(A) Business Training Grant applications that are submitted more than one hundred ten (110) days before the scheduled training date will not be accepted, and
(B) Business Training Grant applications that are submitted less than forty-five (45) days before the scheduled training date will not be accepted.
(i) Contract and Payment
(i) The Director of DWS may approve any training grant application that meets the requirements of Sections 4 (a) through (h) of these rules.
(ii) If the training grant is approved and funds are available, DWS shall enter into a contract with the approved business entity.
(iii) Grant funds shall be paid directly to the business entity.
(j) Schedule for Payment of Funds
(i) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the Grant Award shall be remitted to the business entity after the contract is fully executed and the necessary paperwork has been processed through the state fiscal system.
(ii) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Grant Award shall be withheld by DWS as retainage. Payment of the retainage to the business entity shall be subject to the following:
(A) Subject to Section 4 (k) (iii), (iv) and (v) below, the amount of the retainage associated with each trainee shall be remitted to the business entity if the trainee:
(I) Has completed the training, and (II) Has been retained in employment with the business entity for a ninety (90)-day period after the date of completion of the training.
(B) For each trainee who does not complete the training or is not retained in employment with the business entity for a ninety (90)-day period after completion of the training:
(I) The retainage relating to the trainee shall not be remitted to the business entity, and
(II) The business entity shall be required to repay the seventy-five percent (75%) of the Grant Award relating to the trainee either who did not complete the training or was not retained in employment with the business entity for a ninety (90)- day period after completion of the training.
(C) When a business entity is required to repay DWS under Section 4 (j) (ii) (B), the repayment shall be made to DWS no later than thirty (30) days after notification from DWS that a repayment is due.
(D) A business entity may seek a waiver of this repayment for good cause when the employee, during training, is:
(I) Terminated for cause;
(II) Activated for military service; or
(III) Deceased.
(k) Final report
The business shall submit a final report of the results of the training to DWS.
(i) The final report is due no later than one hundred thirty-five (135) days after the training is completed.
(ii) The final report shall include:
(A) A summary report of the results of the training program;
(B) A copy of the agenda or registration form for the training;
(C) A payroll record listing the name(s), social security number(s) and hourly wages of the employee(s) trained for a pay period ninety (90) days after the training has been completed; and (D) Invoices or receipts for allowable expenses, including travel and registration.
(iii) Where the Grant Award is greater than the actual training expenses, the retainage shall be reduced by the difference between the Grant Award and the actual training expenses.
(iv) Where the difference between the Grant Award and the actual training expenses is greater than the retainage, the business entity shall repay DWS the dollar amount that the difference exceeds the retainage.
(v) Where the actual training expenses are greater than the Grant Award, the difference shall be the sole responsibility of the business entity.
(vi) The business entity shall repay the entire Grant Award if the final report is not submitted in accordance with Section 4 (k).
(vii) If a business entity does not submit a final report or does not repay DWS money owed in accordance with these rules, the business entity's file may be sent to the State of Wyoming Attorney General's office for appropriate action.
(l) Application to Obligate Funding
(i) DWS may obligate Business Training Grant funds under this section when:
(A) The fund will be used to attract a new business to Wyoming as part of an economic development initiative, or
(B) When an existing Wyoming business entity is planning an expansion of its workforce.
(ii) The application to obligate training grant funding under this section shall be:
(A) Completed by a local or regional economic development organization, city/town council, county commission, tribal council, or a new or existing business entity, and
(B) Submitted to DWS.
(iii) DWS shall review training grant applications under this section to determine the level of funding for which a business entity qualifies and obligate the approved funding.
(iv) If funding is available, DWS may obligate the funds for a six (6)-month period. If the business entity does not apply for the funds before the end of the six (6)-month period, DWS may deobligate the funds.
The Director of DWS shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the expenditures made from the WDTF in the preceding fiscal year and the results of the activities funded by the WDTF.