$900,000 state grant program aimed at promoting job-skills training

Published June 10, 2015 by Robert Powell, III

The governor’s office and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) are offering grants designed to help close skills gaps in key industry sectors .

The grants, totaling $900,000, are aimed at encouraging employer-led workforce development projects. The state money will be matched by private funds.

The grants will be awarded to three types of applicants: 

• A group of businesses in the same industry sector that plan to create a training program to develop a talent pipeline of skilled workers. 

• A group of businesses from different industries that,  because of a common workforce development need, have joined together to create a training program.

• An individual company that wants to develop a job skills initiative with companies in its supply chain.  

The maximum individual grant awarded will be $200,000.   Private-sector matching funds must be equal to or greater than the amount of the grant. 

Applications are due to the VEC on or before Sept. 30, and awards are expected to be announced by Oct. 23.
 
More information on the grants can be found at http://www.vec.virginia.gov/competition-for-talent-solutions.