NY · State Grant

New York State Training Grants for Employers

New York's main state workforce money goes to training providers, not directly to employers. The Employee Training Incentive Program is the one state incentive paid to employers, and it is a refundable tax credit of 50% of eligible training costs, up to $10,000 per employee. ESD's Office of Strategic Workforce Development grants go to training providers and colleges, with employers as required partners, and they are closed for the rest of 2026. ON-RAMP funds regional centers, not individual firms.

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State pre-filled: NY
Program type pre-filled: state_training_grant

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Check you are in an eligible industry and meet the 10:1 test
2
Apply for ETIP through the Consolidated Funding Application before training starts
3
Get a certificate of conditional eligibility, then complete the training
4
File a final application within 24 months to receive the credit

4 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the New York money comes from.

Run by Empire State Development (ESD). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

Employee Training Incentive Program (ETIP), a refundable tax credit

50% tax credit, up to $10,000 per employee

APPLY BEFORE TRAINING; CONFIRM CURRENT ROUNDS WITH ESD

WHAT YOU GET

A credit of 50% of eligible training costs, up to $10,000 per employee. Internship credit: 50% of the stipend, up to $3,000 per intern.

HOW MUCH

$10,000 per employee maximum. $3,000 per intern. ESD's overview says $5 million in credits are available per year, up to $1 million for internships.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, as a refundable New York tax credit, issued only after approved training is done.

WHO QUALIFIES

Skills training: capital investment with a benefit-cost ratio of at least 10:1, and operate mainly in a strategic industry
Internships: advanced technology, life sciences, software development or clean energy; fewer than 100 employees
Not eligible: legally required training, licensing training, and several industries including accounting, law, finance, hospitality, restaurants, retail and wholesale

Before you start: Yes. Approval must come before training or internships begin.

ESD Pay for Performance (P4P) Operating Grant Program

Provider grants of $50K to $2M, employer partners

CLOSED UNTIL 2027

WHAT YOU GET

In-kind benefit: a funded training pipeline built with your input. Employers supply letters of commitment and help design training.

HOW MUCH

$50,000 to $2,000,000 per project in one region; up to $10,000,000 across two or more regions. ESD may fund up to 75% of project cost.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Training providers: nonprofits, colleges, unions, workforce boards and for-profit trainers. Employers are required partners, not recipients.

WHO QUALIFIES

Applicants are training providers, not employers
Must be developed in partnership with one or more businesses
Priority industries: advanced manufacturing, biotech, cleantech, construction, OPI, film and TV, software

Before you start: Yes. Competitive application.

ESD Workforce Development Capital Grant Program

Provider capital awards of $100K to $3M

CLOSED UNTIL 2027

WHAT YOU GET

In-kind benefit: new training capacity and equipment for your industry. Employers give letters of commitment.

HOW MUCH

Awards of $100,000 to $3 million. ESD may provide up to 50% of project cost.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Training providers, for facilities and equipment. Not paid to employers.

WHO QUALIFIES

Applicants are providers such as colleges, nonprofits, unions and workforce boards
Must be developed in partnership with businesses

Before you start: Yes. Competitive application through the Consolidated Funding Application.

ON-RAMP (regional advanced manufacturing workforce centers)

$200 million for regional training centers

NOT OPEN TO SINGLE EMPLOYERS

WHAT YOU GET

In-kind benefit: access to centers where employers can develop training programs and find talent.

HOW MUCH

$200 million program. Planning funds up to $300,000 per center, then up to $40 million per center for implementation.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

Consortia led by nonprofits, boards, chambers, BOCES, municipalities or colleges that build the centers.

WHO QUALIFIES

Upstate New York advanced manufacturing focus
Employers join as industry partners in a consortium

Before you start: Not applicable to employers directly.

AVOID THESE

What gets New York State Grant claims denied.

ETIP: starting training before you have ESD approval.
SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV
ETIP: no capital investment meeting the 10:1 benefit-cost test.
SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV
ETIP: training required by a federal or state entity, or that leads to a required license.
SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV
ETIP: the credit is paid only after training is completed, so you fund training first.
SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV
OSWD grants: applying as an employer. Providers apply; employers must be partners.
SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

New York State Grant questions.

Is ETIP a grant or a tax credit?

A tax credit. It is refundable and issued only after approved training is completed.

SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV

Can my company apply for the ESD capital or P4P grants?

Only if you are also a training provider. The grants go to providers such as colleges, nonprofits and unions. Employers join as industry partners.

SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV

When do ESD workforce grants reopen?

ESD says they are offline for the rest of 2026, with new windows to be identified in 2027. Sign up for OSWD alerts.

SOURCE: ESD.NY.GOV

How long do we have to file after training?

The final ETIP application is due within 24 months of the certificate of conditional eligibility.

SOURCE: ESD.NY.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.

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