Questions and Answers
What is the Hiring Incentive Training program?
Eligible Applicants
Application Limits
Employee Eligibility for Training
Training
Applicant Payment Responsibilities
Getting the Training Program Started
Review Process
Application Details
Additional Information
What Is the Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG) Program??
The HITG is a program designed to assist employers in paying for training of newly hired employees who are unemployed Massachusetts residents and do not have a callback date from their most recent employer.
What is the mission of the HITG program?
The mission of the HITG program is to provide organizations with the resources to invest in the Massachusetts workforce by improving employee skills, and to maintain the economic strength and viability of the Commonwealth's businesses. These are the general priorities of the fund:
- Projects that will result in job retention, job growth or increased wages.
- Projects where training would make a difference in the company's productivity, competitiveness, and ability to do business in Massachusetts.
- Projects where the applicant has made a commitment to provide significant private investment in training for the duration of the grant and after the grant has expired.
How is the program funded?
The HITG program is financed entirely by Massachusetts employers through contributions to the Workforce Training Fund.
Who is administering this program?
The Division of Career Services, an agency of the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development, is administering the program.
Eligible Companies
Who is eligible to apply?
Businesses with employees in Massachusetts. Businesses applying for funds must contribute to the Workforce Training Fund. Approved applicants must provide a Massachusetts Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing and return contract execution documents.
Corporations and Limited Partnerships must be listed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary State’s Office.
Can a nonprofit organization apply for HITG funds?
Yes, a nonprofit organization can apply for training funds provided it pays contributions to the Workforce Training Fund and are current with their Unemployment Health Insurance Tax and Fair Share Contribution.
Can units of state, local, or county government apply for HITG funds?
No, governmental entities may not apply for these funds. The intent of the fund is to benefit Massachusetts businesses and their employees.Can a non-Massachusetts-based company apply for HITG training funds?
Yes, a non-Massachusetts-based company can apply for training funds provided the employees to be trained are based in Massachusetts and are Massachusetts residents.
Application Limits
How many times can I apply?
The only specified limit on training funds is a flat rate of $2,000 per trainee and a total of $60,000 per company within a 24-month period. However, applicants should be aware that an effort will be made to distribute funds to companies that have not previously received training funds.How does the 24-month period work?
An applicant can receive up to $60,000 within a 24-month period starting from the award date of its first HITG program grant. The award date is based on the date of the initial approval letter.When is the best time to apply?
HITG applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Application must be submitted online. Please call 1-800-252-1591 if you need assistance with the application process.
Please note: Due to state budget constraints, funding for the HITG Program has been delayed until November 15, 2009. New applications will be accepted when the HITG program is reactivated on November 16, 2009.
How long can my training program last?
Training programs must be completed within 120 days following the hiring of the employee.Employee Eligibility for Training
Who is eligible for training?
Massachusetts residents who are unemployed and do not have a callback notice from their most recent employer. You may confirm this information by having potential new-hires fill out a Pre-screening Notice and Certification Request form. Please note - high school students are not eligible, family members are not eligible, contract and seasonal employment are not eligible.
If my work-site is in Massachusetts, but some employees live outside of Massachusetts, can I train them with these funds?
No. Employees must be Massachusetts residents as well as employees in Massachusetts.Can contract or seasonal workers be trained with these funds?
No, new hires must be permanent employees. Neither contract employees nor seasonal employees are eligible to be trained with these funds.Can part-time employees be trained with HITG funds?
Yes, both full-time and part-time employees are eligible for training.
Training
Can I choose any training provider I want?
Yes. A company may use qualified current employees to train new employees. Other external training providers may also be used. You may want to choose a course from an already existing directory of courses approved for the WTF Express program.Does DCS guarantee the quality of the training providers on the Workforce Training Fund Express website?
No. DCS makes no representation regarding the availability or quality of a training course listed on the Workforce Training Fund Express website. The placement of a training course on the Express website does not constitute an endorsement of that training course or provider. Applicants are encouraged to research the applicable training provider/course prior to submitting an application.What kind of training is allowable?
The HITG program is designed to meet the training needs of companies whose newly hired employees need training in skills related to their new position. We will not fund elementary orientation programs or state and federal mandated training such as OSHA requirements.
What are allowable training costs under a HITG grant?
The HITG Fund will pay a flat rate of $2,000 per new hire employee which cannot exceed $60,000 per grant per company for a 2-year period.
Applicant Payment Responsibilities
What is the "applicant payment?"
The HITG Fund will reimburse the applying employer (the applicant) the cost of training - $2,000 per employee and up to $60,000 per company for a two year period - after the employee's 120th consecutive day of employment. The applicant will pay the rest; this is the "applicant payment" or "match."
Getting the Training Program Started
What are my financial obligations?
Businesses must pay any remaining cost of training beyond the allowable grant amount agreement in addition to the employee's wages while in training. The employees are to be paid their regular pay while they are in training.
What additional paperwork is required?
Grantees will submit a brief evaluation, in a format provided by the HITG program, with the request for grant funds. Grantees will agree to participate in any program-wide evaluation of the HITG program that may be undertaken in the future.How and when will I be reimbursed?
DCS will reimburse funds upon verification by the employer that a new hire has been employed 120 consecutive days. Reimbursement will be based on documents which demonstrate training costs, e.g. receipts from outside vendors or worksheets outlining internal training costs.When can I actually start my training program?
For reimbursement purposes training cannot start prior to the date on the company’s award letter notifying them that the new hire(s) are eligible for funding.
Contract Process
- Company will receive a Massachusetts Standard Contract with the initial application with award letter.
- Company is required to complete the contract documents and return them within 15 business days. Failure to return contract documents will result in the company not being able to receive funding
Applicants must return their contract documents within 15 business days to the Contract and Procurement Department
Following the review of the contract documents if they are found to be incomplete or are missing data or provided incorrect information, applicants will be given no more than 60 days to provide the required documentation. Failure to provide required documents can result in rescinding the award.
Reimbursement/Payment Process
Reimbursement will take place once a training component has been completed.
Applicant must submit the following:
- Payment Voucher must be signed, along with employees' last four social security numbers.
The Division of Career Services is under no obligation to reimburse any training conducted prior to the start date issued on the contract document provided by the Contract and Procurement Department.
Review Process
How will applications be reviewed?
All applications undergo an internal staff screening. In conjunction with the DCS Commissioner, the Workforce Training Fund Advisory Panel will set policies and oversee all funding.What are the criteria for approval?
- The company must pay into the Workforce Training Fund.
- The company must be current on their unemployment insurance payments, Unemployment Health Insurance Tax and Fair Share Contribution.
- The company must have a current Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue with initial application.
- The company must submit a Pre-Screening Notice and Certification form for each new hire trainee in the application indicating they have been unemployed and permanently separated from their previous employer.
- New-hire trainees must be Massachusetts residents;
- Application must be submitted within 30 days of the new hire's start date.
- Employee must be paid regular wages while in training.
- Total grant request does not exceed $60,000.
- Applicant has received no more than $60,000 in a 24-month period.
- Cost per trainee paid with grant funds is a flat rate of $2,000.
- All training is job-related.
- Training will start within six months of grant award.
- Training will last no longer than 120 days..
- Trainees are non-government workers, contract workers or family members
- All trainees are employed in Massachusetts.
- Businesses applying for funds that have not received previous Workforce Training Fund grants will be given preference over those that have.
Who will award the grants?
Grants are awarded by the Division of Career Services.How long will the grant approval process take?
Decisions will be made in approximately 3 business days, provided all information is complete. Following approval, a contract must be executed between the employer and the Division of Career Services.Can I check the status of my application?
Yes, completing a simple registration form will give you immediate access to the WTF Employer Access Page where you can view the status of any of your submitted WTF applications.What if my application is not approved?
Applicants will be informed in writing of the reasons their application is not approved.Application Details
How can my company or organization apply?
Application is completed online. A pre-screening form from each potential new-hire included in an application must be submitted at the time of the application, along with a Department of Revenue Certificate of Good Standing. Fax to 617-723-5594. Please call 1-800-252-1591 if you need assistance with the online process.
What information is asked on the Pre-Screening form?
The following information is requested on the Pre-Screening form. Not all fields are required.
- Employee information: name, social security number, address, telephone number and date of birth, along with their unemployment status
- Employer Information:
- Federal Employer ID - The number your company uses when filing taxes
- Company Legal Name - The name associated with FEIN number
- Company Address - The Massachusetts address where the company is located
- Company Phone Number - The main company phone number
- Contact Name - The person who WTF staff will contact regarding the grant
- Contact Business Title - e.g. Owner, Manager, Executive Assistant
- Contact Phone Number - The direct phone line to contact
What information is asked on the Application form?
In conjunction with the information requested on the Pre-Screening Form, the Application form requests additional information. Not all fields are required.
- Federal Employer ID - The number your company uses when filing taxes
- DUA ID Number - The number your company uses when paying unemployment insurance taxes
- Doing Business As - The company name that the business is known as, if applicable
- Type of Applicant - e.g. Labor Organization, Employer - Profit - Publicly Traded, etc.
- Type of Industry - e.g. Construction, Service, Real Estate, Manufacturing (selected from a list of options)
- Contact Information: Street Address, City, State, Zip Code, Phone Number, Fax Number
- Contact Address - If different from the company address
- Company Web Address - The company web address, if applicable
- Number of Employees at the Parent Company - If the company has more than one location, total number of employees in all locations
- Number of Employees in Massachusetts - If the company has multiple locations in MA, total number of MA employees
- Number of Years in Business - The number of years the company been in business
Trainee Information
- Trainee Name - The names of all employees included in the application to receive training
- Trainee Social Security Number - The social security numbers of all employees included in the application to receive training
- Trainee Job Type - Type of job held or to be held by each employee included in the application to receive training, e.g. Production, Administrative
- Trainee Employment Start Date - The first day each employee will begin (or has begun) working
- Company is able to enter 13 new hires on one application
Training Information
For each trainee, the following information is needed:
- Training Type(s) - The type(s) of training the trainee will be participating in. e.g. Installation, Maintenance and Repair (selected from a list of options)
- Training Description - A detailed description of what the trainees will learn
- Training Start Date - The date the first training for the trainee will start
- Training End Date - The date the last training for the trainee will end
- Training Costs: Internal - The internal training costs for this trainee. This should only include the hourly wage of the internal employee trainer(s) multiplied by number of hours of the training. This number may also include the costs for materials, such as instructional manuals and discs to save documents
- Training Costs: External - The external training costs for this trainee. This should only include the costs of instructional training as provided by the external provider for this trainee. For example, if a trainee is expected to participate in a course where fees are quoted on a Per Person basis, the external training costs should be the Cost Per Person. However, if the trainee is expected to participate in a course where the fees are quotes as Flat Rate, the external training costs will depend on the number of people participating in the course.
Additional Information
Is my information secure if I apply on-line?
Yes. See our privacy policy.If I receive a grant will there be tax implications?
There may be tax implications for receipt of a HITG grant. Grantees are encouraged to discuss these implications with their tax advisers. Please note: For the seven years following the closing of the grant, it may be subject to audit.How do I get assistance and additional information?
Call: 1-800-252-1591
Fax: 617-723-5594
E-mail: WTF@detma.org
Or write to:
The Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund HITG Program
Division of Career Services
19 Staniford Street, 2nd floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114