Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Karla Davis, Commissioner

• The purpose of the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Program is to support training that results in either:
  1.  Lay-off aversion through skill attainment for employees (training component # 1), or
  2.  Lay-off aversion through process improvement (training component # 2) that contributes to
  the competitiveness and productivity of a business
• Tennessee for-profit and not-for-profit (health care) related businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of one year prior to the application date, employ at least five full-time employees, are current on all federal and state tax obligations, and are financially viable are eligible to apply.
• IWT funds are limited, and are therefore awarded on a competitive basis.  Beginning October 1, 2011, the maximum award is $25,000 per grant, with a funding limit of $50,000. Once a company has reached its funding limit with two or more grants in consecutive program years, it must lay out for one year before it can reapply for another grant. As an example: if company A is awarded a $20,000 grant in 2011-2012, and a $15,000 grant in 2012-2013, and a $15,000 grant in 2013-2014 it would have to skip the following year before being able to reapply.
• The IWT is cooperatively administered through the state’s Local Workforce Investment Areas (LWIA) and the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Division of Workforce Development.  Applications are submitted from the companies directly to a LWIA. An LWIA may request additional information or establish supplemental provisions and requirements for the training projects.

If you have any questions or need assistance in completing the application, please contact your local workforce area or:

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Patrick Bleecker
Grants Program Manager
(615) 253-1330
patrick.bleecker@tn.gov