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TN · State Grant

Tennessee State Training Grants for Employers

Tennessee's state-funded employer training money comes in two forms. TNECD's FastTrack Job Training Assistance Program pays new or expanding companies to train net new full-time employees, at its discretion. TDLWD's Incumbent Worker Training grant, delivered by local boards, reimburses part of the cost of upskilling current full-time employees. State OJT and apprenticeship money also flows through local boards; see those pages.

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HOW IT WORKS

Four steps, in this order.

  1. 1

    Choose the grant: FastTrack for new jobs, IWT for current staff

  2. 2

    Apply before you hire or train: TNECD for FastTrack, your local board for IWT

  3. 3

    Sign the contract or accountability agreement

  4. 4

    Train, document costs and results, and claim payment

2 VERIFIED PROGRAMS

Where the Tennessee money comes from.

Run by Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (FastTrack) and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (IWT, OJT). Every figure is from an official page, linked on each card.

FastTrack Job Training Assistance Program (TNECD)

Grant for training net new jobs, set per project
DISCRETIONARY, BY PROJECT
WHAT YOU GET

Funding for training net new full-time employees.

HOW MUCH

No rate is published. Levels depend on net new positions, capital invested, wages and skill levels. Premiums: 35% at-risk counties, 50% distressed counties.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The company, by grant.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • New or expanding company
  • Net new full-time jobs: 37.5 hours a week, kept 12 months, health coverage offered
  • Pre-hire training is not eligible (TNWorks)
Before you start: Yes. A contract must be executed and approved before funds are disbursed.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Contact TNECD about your project before hiring
  2. 2Agree the grant and accountability terms
  3. 3Document eligible positions to be paid

Deadlines and windows: No application window.

SOURCE: TNECD.COM

Incumbent Worker Training grant (TDLWD)

Reimburses training costs for current staff
THROUGH YOUR LOCAL BOARD
WHAT YOU GET

Reimbursement of all or part of the cost of training existing full-time employees. Trainee wages are not covered.

HOW MUCH

Employer match of 10%, 25% or 50% by size. Northern Middle Tennessee caps awards at $25,000.

WHO RECEIVES THE MONEY

The employer, by reimbursement.

WHO QUALIFIES
  • Tennessee for-profit business, or not-for-profit in health care
  • In operation one year, at least five full-time employees
  • Current on taxes, not in bankruptcy
Before you start: Yes. Contract with the local board first.
HOW TO APPLY
  1. 1Submit the pre-application on the TDLWD page
  2. 2Complete the local application with your board
  3. 3Report monthly and invoice with documents

Deadlines and windows: No statewide window is published.

SOURCE: TN.GOV
LOCAL BOARDS

Same program, different rules by board.

Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Board

IWT maximum award of $25,000 with in-kind match by size.

SOURCE: THA.COM
Greater Memphis Local Workforce Development Board

IWT employer share of 10%, 25% or 50%; trainees need six months of history with you.

SOURCE: GREATERMEMWORKFORCE.COM
AVOID THESE

What gets Tennessee State Grant claims denied.

STRAIGHT ANSWERS

Tennessee State Grant questions.

Is FastTrack for existing employees?

No. It supports training of net new full-time employees at new or expanding companies. IWT is the program for current employees.

SOURCE: TN.GOV
Do FastTrack grants pay out automatically?

No. Grants are discretionary and are not paid before a contract is executed and approved.

SOURCE: TNECD.COM
Where do I apply for IWT?

Complete the state pre-application, then your local workforce board or American Job Center contacts you.

SOURCE: TN.GOV
Is there other state money for training?

Local boards also run state-funded OJT and apprenticeship grants. See those pages for rates.

SOURCE: TN.GOV

How we checked. Every fact on this page comes from a state agency, a local workforce board or federal regulation, read on . 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 TENNESSEE

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