MONTANA OFFICE OF TOURISM AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Grant Information

The Primary Sector Workforce Training Grant (WTG) Program is a state-funded program that provides grant funds to primary sector businesses for training of new full-time and part-time jobs.

To be potentially eligible for a grant, an applicant must demonstrate that it is a primary sector business and meets at least one of the following criteria:

• is a value-adding business as defined by the Montana Board of Investments;
• has a significant positive economic impact to the region and state beyond the job creation involved;
• provides a service or function that is essential to the locality or the state; or
• is a for-profit or a nonprofit hospital or medical center providing a variety of medical services for the community or region.

Full-time is defined as a predominantly year round job requiring an average of 35 hours of work each week. Part-time is defined as a predominantly year round job requiring an average of 25 to 34 hours of work each week. The maximum grant award is up to $5,000 for each new full-time job and $2,500 for each new part-time job. Applicants must provide $1 of match for every $3 of grant funds.

Please reference the application information and guidelines for further information on the eligible activities and requirements for funding. It is highly recommended that potential applicants contact the Department for guidance and funding availability before submitting a formal application. This is especially due to the limited funding available statewide.

Contact Annmarie Robinson, Section Manager, at 406.841.2250.

This grant program is administered by the Department of Commerce with the Department Grant Review Committee making the actual grant award decisions. The Committee may award workforce training grants to primary sector businesses that provide education or skills-based training for employees in a newly created job.

This program is targeted to businesses that can demonstrate:

• 50% of the business's sales are from outside of Montana or the business is a manufacturing company with 50% of its sales from companies that have 50% of their sales outside of Montana, and
• must meet at least one of the following criteria
  • be a value-adding business as defined by the Board of Investment,
  • demonstrate a significant positive economic impact to the region and state beyond the job creation involved,
  • be a new business that provides a product or service that is not available in Montana or the region which results in state residents leaving the state to purchase the product or service,
  • provide a service or function that is essential to the locality or the state, or
  • be a for-profit or a nonprofit hospital or medical center.

Applicants must provide $1 of match for every $3 dollars of grant funds.

Trainees must be paid at least the average wage that meets or exceeds the lesser of 170% of Montana's current minimum wage or the current average weekly wage of the county. The wage can include benefits. County wage rates in effect are provided here.

The Department is targeting this workforce training grant program to projects that can demonstrate tangible, measurable results involving employees working in the businesses that are receiving assistance. It is essential that the guidelines be carefully reviewed.

The Department of Commerce has prepared e-learning webinars on How to Apply to the Workforce Training Grant Program, and How to Administer a Grant.

How to Apply
This webinar covers the entities eligible to apply for funding, requirements, and the application process.

How to Administer
This webinar outlines the process and timeline for administering a Workforce Training Grant, training, and documentation required for reimbursement of funds.