Pre-Hire Economic Development Grants
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services recognizes the importance of an educated, skilled workforce in promoting Wyoming’s economic growth. To foster this growth, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services assist employers with the Pre-Hire Grant Program.
The Pre-Hire Economic Development Grant Program is available to train potential employees for a new or expanding business that is unable to recruit workers with a specific skill set. Applications are completed through a partnering of four entities that contribute separate needs or services to the program:
- A training entity that can deliver the training, certificate or skills the business requires;
- A business, group of businesses or an industry with a need for workers;
- The local or regional economic development entity that will work within the local or regional economic network to provide assistance; and
- The local Workforce Center, which will assist in the recruitment of potential skilled workers, along with placement of trained participants.
New parameters have been put in place regarding Allowable Training Expenses. Please reference the Application Instructions link below. The Budget Worksheet link will indicate what expenses are now eligible to request for this grant.
Pre-Hire Grant Forms and Rules
- Pre-Hire Application Instructions and Sample Questions – The Pre-Hire Application Instructions contains links to forms which must be completed BEFORE beginning the Pre-Hire Application.
- Pre-Hire Application – The link for the WDTF Google Pre-Hire Economic Development Training Grant Application is now active. Applications may be created and saved, HOWEVER WDTF will only be accepting applications submitted during the first seven (7) calendar days of each month. Applications submitted any time outside of this window will not be considered.
- Pre-Hire Rules (PDF)
- Pre-Hire Final Report of Trainees (Excel)
- Pre-Hire Final Report Summary Template (Word)
Pre-Obligation of Training Funds
Pre-Obligation of Training Funds provides a means for Wyoming Economic Development Entities to request obligation of funding to attract business and industry to Wyoming. WDTF may obligate this funding when the funding shall be used to attract a new business to Wyoming as part of an economic development initiative, or when an existing Wyoming business entity is planning an expansion of its workforce.
Applications for Pre-Obligation of Training Funds shall be completed by the Economic Development Entity collaborating with the partnering business. If approved and once the funding has been obligated, the funding can be accessed through either the Pre-Hire Grant, the Business Training Grants, or a combination of both. Once the training has been identified and is available, separate applications shall be submitted through the Business Training Grant or the Pre-Hire Grant and must meet the eligibility requirements of those grants per the program rules.
The total application amount shall not exceed an amount equivalent to two hundred (200) trainees multiplied by the maximum grant amount allowed for Business Training Grants, which is determined by industry as follows:
- $2,000 per trainee per state fiscal year
- $3,000 per trainee per state fiscal year in a preferred industry
Pre-Obligation of Training Funds Forms and Rules
- The Pre-Obligation of Training Funds is the most intricate funding opportunity of WDTF that requires considerable involvement and communication among various groups. Members of WDTF staff are happy to set up an initial conversation to learn more about the business needs and help determine whether the Business Training Grant, Pre-Hire Grant or a combination of both, would be the best way to utilize the Pre-Obligation of Training Funds.
- Pre-Obligation Rules (PDF)