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Tennessee Economic Recovery Training Grant (TERTG)


Guidelines

The Tennessee Economic Recovery Training Grant (TERTG) is funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and administered by the  Workforce Development division within the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA contact), and the local Career Center.  This grant will provide assistance to Tennessee companies who have a need to train incumbent workers in company related, work specific training. The training should result in a high probability of lay-off avoidance and possible company growth through the economic recovery period.  The maximum grant amount is $100,000 to for-profit companies with a required 25% minimum match. Program starting date is April 1, 2009 and will run through June 30, 2010. Notification of approval must be received prior to start of any training. Grant applications are subject to a proposal evaluation and approval by the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Office of Employer Services.
This grant is not intended to replace the existing Incumbent Worker Training Grant Program already in place. The TERTG is intended to provide training assistance to companies who wish to provide training to their employees during the economic recovery period and need more than the $50,000 cap that IWT provides. This is not a pilot program and will not be renewed after the ARRA funding has been expended.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

  • Application for the 2009/2010 Tennessee Economic Recovery Training Grant is open to all Tennessee companies meeting the listed guidelines.
  • Notification of approval and fully executed contract in place with the Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) prior to start of any training.
  • Must be a "for-profit" business and have been in operation in Tennessee for a minimum of one year prior to application date to be eligible for grant funding.
  • Must demonstrate financial viability and must be current on all state tax obligations when applicable. 
  • Third party contacts are prohibited.
  • Applications must be submitted, with a letter of support, by your Local Workforce Investment Area LWIA contact.
  • Limited to four training elements.
  • Must score at least 100 on the application review.
  • Should be for the purpose of improving employee earning potential through the upgrade of skills and to assist in keeping businesses competitive to promote growth and avoid layoff.

TRAINING SERVICES All training must be completed by the last day of the specific program period. All training contracts should have specific start and end dates.  

  • Can be provided through Tennessee's public or private educational institutions, private training organizations, trainers employed by the business, or a combination of training providers.
  • Can be conducted at the business's own facility, at the training provider's facility, or at a combination of sites.
  • For assistance with training provider see link below.
    www.ja.state.tn.us/thec/cbjt/PgSrchEng.jsp

REIMBURSEABLE TRAINING EXPENSES:

  • Instructors'/Trainers' salaries - capped at actual amount or $50/hour, whichever is less
  • Curriculum Development, not to exceed 5% of total State obligation (Defined as the time necessary for company officials to determine training needs or for a training  provider to develop new curriculum)
  • Textbooks/manuals
  • Materials/Supplies
  • Tuition Expense (Tuition defined as being provided by an  institution regulated by  the Tennessee Higher Education Commission)

NON-REIMBURSEABLE COSTS:

  • Trainees' wages
  • Purchases of capital equipment
  • Purchase of any item or service that may possibly be used outside of the training project
  • Travel expenses of trainers or trainees
  • On-the-job training costs\
  • Assessment, testing, or certification fees
  • Basic computer skills unless in conjunction with advanced level
  • English as a second language
  • TOSHA provided safety training; visit www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/
  • Adult basic education
  • Other services provided by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development; visit www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/

GRANT AWARDS:

  • Businesses approved for funds enter into a contract with their local workforce investment area (LWIA contact) which commits the business to complete the training project as proposed in their application.
  • Approved budget items are reimbursed upon presentation of adequate documentation of the training and evidence that the training expense incurred has been paid.
  • Businesses will provide a 25% minimum matching contribution to the training project grant amount.
  • Businesses will keep accurate records of the project's implementation process and certify that all information provided for the purpose of requesting reimbursements and reporting training activity is accurate and true.
  • Businesses submit monthly or quarterly reimbursement requests with required support documentation, to their local workforce investment area representative. (LWIA contact)
  • Any other contract provisions established by the LWIA.

PROJECT COMPLETION:

  • All Grant projects shall be performance based with specific measurable performance outcomes - including: the completion of the training project, number of employees trained, beginning and ending wages of trainees, Date of Birth, and customer satisfaction.
  • Final payment for businesses receiving TERTG grants will be withheld until the final report is submitted and all performance criteria specified in the grant have been achieved.
  • Businesses shall provide sufficient documentation to the local workforce investment area for identification of all employee participants for calculation of performance measures required by WIA, and any other outcomes deemed pertinent to the grant administrator. 
  • When an TERTG grant award is made it is for the completion of specific training components. If the company does not complete those training components by the end of the contract period, their final reimbursement will be pro-rated to bring their total reimbursement for the project inline with the actual training components completed.

Application Instructions:

Contact your Local Workforce Investment Area for assistance with completion of and submitting of application. DETACH and complete the attached TERTG Program Application. Any information or documentation that cannot be supplied in the provided space should be identified by the relevant question number and attached to the back of the application form. Submit one original and one copy of the application by mail to your local workforce investment area (LWIA contact).

NOTIFICATION OF APPROVAL MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO START OF ANY TRAINING.

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