SC · State Grant

South Carolina State Training Grants for Employers

South Carolina does not run a general cash grant for employer training. It offers two state programs through the SC Technical College System. readySC builds and delivers training for new and expanding companies at no cost to the company (in-kind, not cash). retrainSC rebates up to $1,000 per eligible employee per year through payroll withholding for existing manufacturers, processors, tech-intensive and warehousing or distribution companies. Training grants for other employers come through WIOA and local boards.

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

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

1
Expanding or relocating: contact SC Commerce or readySC to scope the training
2
Existing manufacturer or similar: confirm you meet retrainSC industry and health insurance rules
3
Build the training plan with the SC Technical College System
4
Get approval, pay for training, then receive the withholding rebate

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the South Carolina money comes from.

Run by SC Technical College System (readySC and retrainSC), with SC Department of Commerce. Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

readySC (SC Technical College System)

Free custom training for new and expanding companies

ONGOING

WHAT YOU GET

Recruiting and a custom training curriculum built with the technical colleges, at no cost to the company.

HOW MUCH

No dollar amount published. Training is provided free to qualifying companies.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

No cash to the employer. The state pays the technical college system to recruit and train for you. This is an in-kind service.

WHO QUALIFIES

Companies that are expanding or looking to move to South Carolina
Training tailored to the company's workforce requirements

Before you start: Yes. Scope the project with readySC before hiring or training.

retrainSC (Job Retraining Tax Credit, paid as a withholding rebate)

Up to $1,000 per employee per year

ONGOING

WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of eligible training and education costs, up to $1,000 per eligible employee per calendar year.

HOW MUCH

Up to $1,000 per employee per year. The retrainSC site says up to $5,000 per employee over five years.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, as a rebate of payroll tax withholding or reimbursement of out-of-pocket training costs, after State Board approval.

WHO QUALIFIES

Facility in South Carolina in manufacturing, processing, warehousing or distribution, or technology-intensive operations
Cover at least 50% of health care premiums for full-time employees
Train full-time production, technology or warehousing first-line employees or immediate supervisors
Those employees on your payroll continuously for at least one year

Before you start: Yes. Credit follows approval by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education and a training plan.

AVOID THESE

What gets South Carolina State Grant claims denied.

Not offering health insurance that covers at least half of full-time employees' premiums.
SOURCE: RETRAINSC.COM
Training employees outside the target group, or with under one year on payroll.
SOURCE: RETRAINSC.COM
Being outside the four eligible industries.
SOURCE: RETRAINSC.COM
Using temporary or contract workers.
SOURCE: RETRAINSC.COM

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

South Carolina State Grant questions.

Does South Carolina give cash grants for employee training?

Not as a general state program. The state programs are readySC (free training, in kind) and retrainSC (a rebate for eligible industries). Cash-style reimbursement for other employers comes through WIOA OJT and IWT via local boards.

SOURCE: SCCOMMERCE.COM

Is retrainSC a tax credit or a grant?

It is called the Job Retraining Tax Credit by SC Works and is paid as a payroll tax withholding rebate. Treat it as a reimbursement after approval.

SOURCE: SCWORKS.ORG

Who runs retrainSC?

The SC Technical College System helps with the application, the training plan, compliance and a yearly plan review.

SOURCE: RETRAINSC.COM

Can I use IWT and readySC together?

State IWT policy says yes if the training funded does not duplicate another funding source.

SOURCE: SCWORKS.ORG

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 SOUTH CAROLINA

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