Funding

North Carolina (Mecklenburg County)

UpSkill Charlotte Training Grant

Information provided by Charlotte Works.

What is UpSkill Charlotte?
The UpSkill Charlotte Training Grant is a training grant through which qualifying businesses can address employees’ skills  gaps. Employers can qualify for funds to provide training for their existing workers, so they can improve their skills and  move them up into better career opportunities. It allows employers to maximize the potential of their existing  employees who have already demonstrated solid soft skills and a fit to the company culture.

An ideal UpSkill opportunity is one where a participant acquires new skills allowing him or her to move into a higher  skilled and higher paid job within the company, thus allowing the company to hire a job seeker to backfill the incumbent  worker’s position. Priority will be given to training that results in an industry recognized credential.

What employers are eligible for UpSkill Charlotte?
A business that is eligible to apply must be:

• a Mecklenburg County for-profit and not-for-profit business;
• that has an employer-employee relationship with the trainees;
• that has at least 5 or more employees with which there is an employer-employee relationship; • that has been in operation in Mecklenburg County for a minimum of one year prior to the application deadline date; and
• is current on all federal and state obligations; and is financially viable.

What employees are eligible for UpSkill Charlotte?
An incumbent worker must be:

• at least 18 years of age and a paid employee of the applicant business or businesses;
• in a relationship that meets the Fair Labor Standards Act requirements for an employer-employee; • an employee with an established employment history with the employer for 6 months or more; • a citizen of the United States or a non-citizen whose status permits employment in the United States; • registered in compliance with the Selective Service System (males born on or after January 1, 1960 only); and • an employee to be trained that works at a facility located in Mecklenburg County.

What training may be funded?
The following types of training can be funded:

• occupational skills training designed to meet the special requirements of a business or a group of businesses; • educational training defined as short courses that address the identified skills gaps and could lead to a credential or to an industry-recognized certification;
• training as part of an approved apprenticeship program.

How is UpSkill Charlotte funded?
The local workforce development board receives training dollars through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act  (WIOA). A portion of those dollars can be used for classroom training, on-the-job training, or incumbent worker training.

What are the funding limits?
UpSkill Charlotte Training Grant funds are limited, and are, therefore, awarded on a competitive basis, in two rounds per  year. The maximum amount is $10,000 per grant, per round, although higher award amounts can be applied for and  have been awarded to opportunities judged to make a substantial impact on the trainees’ professional life. There is a  lifetime limit of $100,000. Only UpSkill Charlotte Training Grant funds will be counted toward the lifetime limit. If a  company is awarded an UpSkill Charlotte Training Grant but is unable to use any of the funds and forfeits the full grant  amount, then that grant amount will not count against the total lifetime limit for that company.

All UpSkill Charlotte Grant funds awarded must be expended within 12 months of the award date. Under extenuating  circumstances, a request can be made to extend the date of a contract. Unused funds will be forfeited. Businesses who  fail to use any or all of the funds awarded are eligible to reapply.

What are employer responsibilities for UpSkill Charlotte?
The employer must pay for a portion of the cost of providing the training to incumbent workers. This portion is defined  as the non-federal share. The non-federal share is based on the following limits: not less than 10% of the cost, for  employers with not more than 50 employees; not less than 25% of the cost, for employers with more than 50  employees, but not more than 100 employees; and not less than 50% of the cost, for employers with more than 100  employees.

The non-federal share provided by an employer participating in the program may include the amount of the wages paid  by the employer to a worker while the worker is attending a training program. The employer may provide the share in  cash or in kind, fairly evaluated. Examples of the non-federal share are trainees’ wages, on-site facility usage, trainees’  travel, food and lodging.

At the end of training a final report is due no later than forty-five (45) days from the end of the training. The report will  include: Names of all completing participants, total hours of training, certifications earned (if any) and actual non-federal  share of the business. Additional information related to retention, promotion, wage increases, or business  expansion/growth should be reported at that time.

How does the employer receive the grant funds?
UpSkill Charlotte is a reimbursement program wherein the employer is reimbursed for training cost following the  completion of each training component. The employer shall submit an invoice and receipt for the training cost to the  Charlotte Works who will process the reimbursement.

What are the desired outcomes of UpSkill Charlotte?
UpSkill Charlotte Training Grants, funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) addresses  the need to promote upward career and economic mobility for employees by increasing workers’ skills, wages,  advancement opportunities, knowledge and certification. This will, in turn, strengthen the employer’s place in the  marketplace. Successful training completion, employee retention and wage gain will all be measured following training.

How does an employer apply for UpSkill Charlotte?
Employers will complete an application indicating what training they would like to utilize for their employees and what  the expected outcomes would be. A decision on an application will usually be made within 30 days. Interested  employers should contact Chris Miller, business project manager at Charlotte Works. She can be reached via email at  cmiller@charlotteworks.com or phone at 704.274.8013.