MO · Customized

Missouri Customized Training Grants: A Practical Employer Guide

Missouri's customized training program is Missouri One Start. It designs recruitment and training around one employer's needs, delivered by a community college, your own staff or your chosen vendors. Companies are reimbursed once approved training is complete and invoices are paid. Awards depend on new jobs, capital investment and available funds, so there is no fixed amount.

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State pre-filled: MO
Program type pre-filled: customized_training

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Contact Missouri One Start and confirm you qualify
2
Design the training with a college partner
3
Sign the agreement before training starts
4
Train, pay invoices, and get reimbursed

1 VERIFIED PROGRAM

Where the Missouri money comes from.

Run by Missouri One Start, Missouri Department of Economic Development. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

Missouri One Start customized and New Jobs Training

Reimbursed after training, no fixed cap

ONGOING, SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

WHAT YOU GET

Job-specific training and recruitment services, with approved training costs reimbursed. Equipment and training facilities are not reimbursable. Part of the cost can be met by a new jobs credit from your state withholding.

HOW MUCH

Awards depend on investment, job creation, training needs and available funds. The new jobs credit is 2.5% of gross wages for the first 100 jobs and 1.5% for the rest. Relocation help is 50% of your cost, up to $3,500 per out-of-state hire, and no more than 50% of the award.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer is reimbursed for approved training. Funds move through a community college district's project fund set up under your agreement.

WHO QUALIFIES

Registered in Missouri, with a project facility, offering health insurance and paying at least 50% of premiums
Training must be for new jobs or upgrading existing jobs; awards weigh new jobs and capital investment
Service companies must earn most of their revenue from outside Missouri
Excluded: gambling, store-front retail, food and drinking places, public utilities, education, public administration, ethanol and biodiesel

Before you start: Yes. The state reviews a notice of intent for 14 days, and an agreement among you, the college and the state must be in place.

LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Community college and technical school partners

Training can be delivered by a college trainer, your in-house experts or your preferred vendors. The partner handles the state paperwork.

SOURCE: MISSOURIONESTART.COM

Full Employment Council (Kansas City region)

Offers customized training and services to employers at no cost, alongside wage assistance.

SOURCE: FECKC.ORG

AVOID THESE

What gets Missouri Customized claims denied.

Being in an excluded industry such as store-front retail, food service, gambling or public utilities.
SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV
Not offering health insurance to all full-time employees and paying at least half the premium.
SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV
Using funds to train workers who would replace employees in an authorized work stoppage.
SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV
Being delinquent on state or federal taxes.
SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV
Failing to keep the jobs. The state can demand repayment with a rate of return if jobs are not kept for five years.
SOURCE: REVISOR.MO.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Missouri Customized questions.

Who delivers the training?

A community college, technical college or career center trainer, your own experts, or your preferred vendors.

SOURCE: MISSOURIONESTART.COM

Is it free?

The recruitment and design services are at no cost to eligible businesses. Training costs are reimbursed after the work is done, and part may be repaid through a withholding credit.

SOURCE: MISSOURIONESTART.COM

Can small employers use it?

Yes. The site says training resources are available to eligible Missouri businesses of all sizes, based on investment, jobs, need and funds.

SOURCE: MISSOURIONESTART.COM

What is the federal customized training rule?

Under WIOA, you must commit to hire the person after training and pay a significant share of the cost. Missouri job centers did not publish a separate customized training policy on pages checked.

SOURCE: ECFR.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on September 30, 2026. Where a board publishes nothing, we say so instead of guessing. Programs and funding change often; confirm with the program before you commit. Written by Jason Meehl, founder of Reimbursa. Found an error? Email hello@reimbursa.com.

OTHER PROGRAMS IN MISSOURI

Reimbursa monitors workforce-reimbursement programs across every state and writes machine-checkable rules packs that prevent claim rejections. See membership pricing.