Services to Employers

Access To Job Seekers

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development offers employers access to job seekers through the Career Center System. Any employer can place a simple request for referrals through the labor market exchange program offered at each of the career centers. [Career Centers]

Incumbent Worker Training Program

FUNDING FOR INCUMBENT WORKER GRANTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2009.

The Incumbent Worker Training Program provides grant funding for customized training for existing for profit businesses. Through this customer-driven program, Tennessee is able to effectively retain and keep businesses competitive through upgrade skills training for existing full-time employees. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, along with the specific Local Workforce Investment Area and the local Career Center administer the Incumbent Worker Training Program. The program has been structured to be flexible to meet the business' training objectives. The business may use public, private, or its own in-house training provider based on the nature of the training.

LWIA’s and Local Boards are encouraged to take control over the IWT selection process by having flexibility to:

Select priority industries, set grant amounts at or below $50,000 to reach more companies in more counties, prioritize types of training that better meets the needs in the local areas and emphasize training that promotes real skills development as opposed to soft skills training.

Some examples of soft skills training are: new employee orientations, CPR, Drug free workplace, benefit policy orientations, conflict resolution, leadership, OSHA/TOSHA, etc.

Tennessee Economic Recovery Training Grant (TERTG)

***AS OF MAY 1, 2009, ALL GRANT MONEY FOR THE TERTG HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED.

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..

Apprenticeship Assistance Program

FUNDING FOR THE APPRENTICESHIP ASSISTANCE GRANTS HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2009.  NEW FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE JANUARY 1, 2010.

The Apprenticeship Assistance Pilot Program (AAPP) is designed to aid apprenticeship programs, recognized by the USDOL Office of Apprenticeships, deliver valuable skills training for the building trades and other related jobs in high growth industries that face critical skills shortages where demand exceeds supply. These apprenticeship training programs are key in providing the skilled works needed to insure Tennessee meets the skilled workforce demands of the 21st century.

A Career Readiness Certificate is a portable skills credential that documents that standards have been demonstrated via WorkKeys assessments in:

- Applied Math
- Reading for Information
- Locating Information

On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Employers who have been pre-approved by One-Stop Career Centers can be reimbursed up to half of wages paid to workers. Employers earn workers they have trained to their own specifications and employees are very likely to remain after training is complete. OJT is particularly encouraged in higher-skill occupations, and can be done in conjunction with classroom training at education institutions. Reimbursements are limited to six months and may not exceed the time required to acquire the skill needed for the position.

On The Job Training for an eligible employed individual may be available for employers when the employee is not earning a self-sufficient wage as determined by local board policy. The employer must agree to continue to employ the individual on successful completion of the training. To find out more about the availability of OJT in your area contact your LWIA. [LWIAs]

For additional information contact:

Patrick Bleecker
Workforce Development Division
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(615) 253-1330
Fax (615) 741-3003
patrick.bleecker@tn.gov

Sterling VanDerSpuy
Workforce Development Division
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(615) 532-5945
Fax (615) 741-3003
sterling.vanderspuy@tn.gov

Wil Hammond
Workforce Development Division
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(615) 741-7808
Fax (615) 741-3003
wil.hammond@tn.gov